Description:

The appointed PhD researcher will join the Faculty of Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, specifically the Department of Business Technology and Operations, within the House of Sustainable Transitions research group at VUB. The research will be conducted as part of the European MSCA Doctoral Network TRANSFORM—Urban Mobility Cultures in Transition: Socio-Spatial Implications of Transformative Practices (2025-2028).

The TRANSFORM project adopts a holistic, interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and gender-sensitive approach to study transitions in urban mobility cultures. It aims to assess the effectiveness of transformative practices and their socio-spatial impacts. The network comprises 16 esteemed European academic institutions and 9 experienced non-academic organizations, including private companies, associations, regional governments, and urban living labs. A total of 13 doctoral candidates will be recruited to pursue individual research projects integrated into eight work packages.

The specific research focus for this PhD position involves analyzing urban transformations by examining the involvement of non-governmental initiatives across six case studies: Brussels (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Frankfurt (Germany), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Madrid (Spain), and Vienna (Austria). The research will:

1. Critically analyze the impact of mobility campaigns across diverse European mobility cultures.
2. Investigate how non-governmental initiatives have influenced behavior changes and policy-making processes.
3. Enhance theoretical understanding of transport governance structures, the significance of local residents’ quality of life, and the transition towards sustainable mobility cultures.

The empirical research will involve collaboration with local stakeholders, including civil organizations and government representatives in Belgium, to explore mobility campaigns and bottom-up governance at various scales. Participation in trainings, workshops, and mandatory secondments (1-2 months) to partner institutions is required during the project.

Dates:

The position is set to commence on 1 September 2025. The initial contract is for 12 months, with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of 48 months, contingent upon positive evaluation of the PhD activities.

Eligibility:

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Educational Background: A Master’s Degree in Transport Planning, Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Sustainable Development, Sociology, Anthropology, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Research Interests: Demonstrated interest in mobility, sustainability, governance, and participatory planning.
• Research Skills: Proficiency in qualitative (e.g., interviews, focus groups, content analysis) and quantitative (e.g., survey analysis) research methods, or a strong willingness to develop these skills.
• Language Proficiency: Strong oral and written communication skills in English. Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency, such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge certificates, or an English-language Master’s degree. Additionally, knowledge of Dutch and/or French is desirable to facilitate collaboration with local stakeholders in Belgium.
• Communication Skills: Ability to effectively engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Teamwork: Capacity to work in an interdisciplinary team and collaborate with civil society and government partners.
• Time Management: Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Office applications. Skills in relevant software (e.g., GIS, SPSS, Qualtrics, R) are an advantage.
• Mobility Rule Compliance: Adherence to the MSCA mobility rule, which stipulates that researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates should apply by 15 May 2025, via the VUB job portal, and upload the following documents:

• A CV with contact details of a reference and an explicit indication of compliance with the MSCA mobility rule.
• A motivation letter (max 500 words) expressing the applicant’s interest in pursuing a PhD, the specific position, and the proposed approach to the research topic.
• A publication or report in English to which the applicant has substantially contributed (e.g., Master’s thesis).
• Evidence of English language proficiency.
• Relevant diplomas (not applicable for VUB alumni).

For questions regarding the job content, applicants may contact Prof. Dr. Imre Keseru at Imre.Keseru@vub.be or on +32 (0)2 6148323.

Benefits:

The VUB offers an open, involved, and diverse workplace with opportunities for career development. Benefits include extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance, an open and informal working environment with attention to work-life balance, exceptional holiday arrangements, cost-free hospitalization insurance, full reimbursement of home-to-work commute with public transport, affordable campus restaurant meals, excellent facilities for sport and exercise, discounts via Benefits@Work, nursery near.

Link to the Scholarship:

For more detailed information and application procedures, please visit the official VUB vacancy page HERE