PhD – Resilience against disaster and war in the Netherlands
Investigate the implementation and impact of societal resilience initiatives in the face of disaster and war.
Best for:Best for social science graduates with a strong interest in disaster sociology and qualitative field research.
Overview
Wageningen University & Research is seeking a PhD candidate to join the Sociology of Development and Change chair group. This research project examines how government-led and community-driven resilience initiatives prepare residents for crises, including disasters and war. The successful candidate will conduct qualitative field research across Dutch municipalities to analyze the dynamics of participation, decision-making, and benefit distribution within these initiatives. The role involves contributing to disaster sociology through new theoretical insights and providing policy recommendations to relevant authorities. You will work within an international, interdisciplinary environment on a project that addresses critical societal challenges.
What you'll do
- Conduct a comprehensive literature review on community resilience and disaster preparedness.
- Analyze the implementation and impact of government-led and spontaneous community resilience measures.
- Examine the social dynamics of resilience initiatives, including participation, decision-making, and benefit distribution.
- Collect and analyze qualitative data through comparative field research in Dutch municipalities and Safety Regions.
- Develop new theoretical insights and contribute to the field of disaster sociology.
- Formulate evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and administrators involved in resilience planning.
- Present research findings to academic and professional audiences.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, public administration, or business administration).
Degree offered: PhD
Language: Dutch (fluent); English (C1 level).
Instruction: English and Dutch
Publications: Not explicitly required, but a strong record of academic or professional writing is preferred.
- Proven experience with qualitative comparative field research.
- Excellent academic writing and research skills.
- Demonstrable interest in crises, disasters, and war.
- Ability to take initiative and direct the research process independently.
- Fluency in Dutch.
- English proficiency at C1 level.
- Must be able to work and live in the Netherlands.
- Must provide a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag - VOG).
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-02
Applications should be submitted through the university's official portal. Ensure all required documents are prepared according to the guidelines provided on the vacancy page.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Master's thesis
- Academic transcripts
Contact
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