PhD Position in Geography

Flooding is a threatening human-/climate-induced hazard and the expected increase in the frequency and severity of floods is challenging cities worldwide. Existing scholarship on flood risk adaptation theorises about modes of governance and strives to identify the key governance features for enhancing urban flood resilience. Flood risk management has since long been informed by centralised control and rational problem-solving, resulting in the main strategy of keeping floods away from urban areas through hard control infrastructure. Yet, the emergence of a bioregional approach – which seeks to include communities in the governance of local resources,– the gradual decentralisation of power, the shift from government to governance, and the increasing occurrence of flooding events have triggered and encouraged a change in discourses concerning flood risk management. Modern flood risk management advocates a paradigm shift from a focus on flood defence (reducing the probability of floods) to approaches aimed at reducing both the probability and consequences of floods. Spatial planning can significantly reduce the consequences (vulnerability and exposure) of floods when profiling spatial distribution and land use in floodplains. Nonetheless, spatialisation of flood risk management strategies is hardly achieved in practice.

Driven by the safety-first principle, flood risk management emerges from a culture of resistance. The advocated paradigm shift does not happen in a vacuum; it rather demands technical innovations and, most importantly, changes to current existing institutional arrangements and the set of actors, rules and resources in flood risk management. Rules-in-use (institutions) are not the only incentive or constraint faced by actors involved in decision-making. Flood risk governance lands in highly politicised contexts and it is played out at the interface of institutional settings and power relations, whose interaction may constrain or enable stakeholders in developing or implementing new flood risk management strategies. To better understand the outcomes of decision-making processes in this context, you will be invited to combine discursive-institutional theories with theories on power to conduct a fine-grained analysis of flood risk management and spatial policies and unravel the complexity of implementing spatial strategies for flood risk management. A combination of theories on power and institutional theories allows to move beyond purely institution-centred or power-centred approaches and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the conditions affecting decision-making processes and outcomes.

By using a multiple-case design, this research aims to learn about 1) the behaviour of actors in multi-layered governance structures and nested institutional settings, 2) the discourses actors bring into action arenas and how these shape decision-making processes, and 3) the (transboundary) institutional arrangements for dealing with upstream-downstream conflicts. Empirical insights will be comparatively analysed to better understand current adaptation responses and ultimately help policy-makers design successful governance approaches for enhancing urban flood resilience.

You will be supervised by Dr Corinne Vitale and Prof. Sander Meijerink.

Profile

• You should hold an MSc in Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning, or a related discipline.
• You have academic excellence as demonstrated by your CV and grade transcripts.
• You are able to undertake teaching and administrative support in parallel with your PhD research.
• You have an excellent command of both written and spoken English.
• You have an affinity with interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research.
• You have the ability to work both independently and in teams.

We are

The Department of Geography, Planning and the Environment (GPE) seeks to provide a deep understanding of how places, from the local to the global level, are politically and materially shaped, experienced and governed, and to contribute to the development of more sustainable and equitable places. GPE's approach goes explicitly beyond a government and policy orientation, addressing the deep political and institutional nature of placemaking and spatial-environmental governance.

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.

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Nijmegen School of Management
The Nijmegen School of Management enables students, institutions and companies, social actors and governments to play their part in the transformation towards sustainable societies. More than 5,000 students are currently enrolled in our challenging Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. With over 500 academic and support staff, we provide education and research that has a significant impact on society in matters relating to the domains of social economy, resilient society and he sustainable environment. We work closely within the fields of business administration, economics and business economics, geography, spatial planning and environment, public administration and political science. Academic research is carried out at the Institute for Management Research (IMR). The Education Institute is the home base for all education within the faculty.

An important focus of the faculty’s strategy is to create an inclusive, safe and productive work and study environment for everyone involved with the faculty. The Nijmegen School of Management is located in the Elinor Ostrom Building, which is a vibrant place where our students and staff members can study, work and relax.

We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1,5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).     
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,770 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Practical information and applying

You can apply no later than 6 May only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Corine Vitale.

The first interviews will take place on 14 May. You will preferably start your employment on 1 September 2024.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.