PhD on international climate governance

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Brussels School of Governance, Department Instituut voor Europese Studies, is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

You will form part of the School’s Centre of Environment, the Economy and Energy (3E Centre) and your PhD will contribute to a starting multidisciplinary Horizon Europe project on international climate governance. The 3E Centre’s contribution to the project focuses on enhancing polycentric/international cooperation under and beyond the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The exact research focus and contribution can to some extent be adapted within the overall team. More information on the Brussels School and 3E Centre can be found here.

You will prepare a PhD on the basis of the project work that is expected to result in several academic articles that could form the core of the PhD (with exact arrangements to be developed and discussed).

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You completed a master’s degree or equivalent in the fields of political science, international relations, (international) law (or a related discipline)
• You have proven academic research interest in areas related to international climate governance;
• You can operate in a multicultural and multidisciplinary research team;
• You are fluent in English. Knowledge of other (European) languages is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of/experience with/interest in polycentric international/global climate governance will be considered a particular asset.
• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/01/2025. 

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 15/10/2024, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents in one PDF, in de order as listed below:

• your motivation letter;
• a full CV, including a list of publications (if any);
• the contact details of two references;
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni) or certificate;
• one recent sample of academic writing.

Please upload the PDF-file in one of the required fields and disregard the different fields on our webpage.

You can start as of 1 January or as soon as possible thereafter. 

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Sebastian Oberthür at Sebastian.oberthuer@vub.be or on +32 2 614 80 01.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.