1 Postdoctoral position in Smart Urban Governance in Netherlands | Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

This is a full-time, three-year post-doc position (with an initial contract for one year) within the international Urban Renewal and Housing research group led by Professor Maarten van Ham. The post-doctoral researcher will work under the supervision of Dr. Reinout Kleinhans in the three-year JPI Urban Europe ENSCC Project ‘Smartgov’ which seeks to strengthen contemporary urban governance by creating digital tools for decision support and two-way communication between citizens, governments and other stakeholders in (smart) cities. This project is a partnership between the TU Delft and academic and industry partners from Austria, Spain and Cyprus. The post-doc will conduct research into the nature of and requirements for contemporary urban governance of smart cities, with a focus on how various actors in ‘smart cities’ co-operate in decision-making processes and how co-creation and co-production between citizens and professionals affect the outcomes. The post-doc will conduct literature reviews and semi-structured interviews, design evaluation approaches for the monitoring of digital tools that will be developed and piloted in several European cities, co-ordinate the evaluation data collection by project partners in their countries, and analyse interview transcripts. The researcher will (co-)author project working reports as well as research papers for peer-reviewed citation indexed journals, present papers at international conferences, and lead seminars to disseminate research findings. The post-doctoral researcher will also assist in day-to-day project management.

Requirements

The candidate holds a PhD in geography, sociology, urban planning, public administration, or another relevant discipline. Solid theoretical expertise in the fields of participatory planning, urban governance and active citizenship is required. Candidates have strong qualitative research skills and proven experience with in-depth interviews and transcript analysis (NVivo/Atlas.ti), and preferably experience with quantitative research. Candidates preferably have a strong track record of international, peer-reviewed publications. An excellent command of English is required. A sufficient command of Dutch is an asset. Excellent project management and communication skills are regarded as assets.

Conditions of employment

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Organisation

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Department

Architecture

OTB - Research for the Built Environment specialises in independent reseach in the field of housing, construction and the built environment. The policy areas of OTB are centred around various aspects of the built environment, including research into housing, urban renewal, transport and infrastructure, urban and regional development, sustainable building and building policy, land policy, geo-information resources and GIS technology. OTB is a department in the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology.

The Urban Renewal and Housing research group, led by Prof. Maarten van Ham, investigates neighbourhoods and cities as changing social sites and as sites of governance and civic action, including effects of neighbourhoods on residents and how residents affect neighbourhood stratification. The research programme focuses on three strongly interrelated broad themes: 1) neighbourhood effects; 2) neighbourhoods as sites of governance and civic action; 3) neighbourhood change and stratification. The staff of this research group has backgrounds in demography, sociology, geography and economics.