Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoc Researcher social and financial values of cooperative urban development

About the Role

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate the social and financial value of cooperative urban development. Focusing on Amsterdam’s housing and energy sectors, this interdisciplinary project explores how cooperative ownership and development models can contribute to an affordable, sustainable, and equitable society. The research bridges academic analysis with concrete policy and practical questions, offering a unique combination of scholarly work and direct engagement with urban practice.

You will be employed by WUR and work both in Wageningen and at the AMS Institute in Amsterdam—a partnership between WUR, TU Delft, and MIT that brings together academia, the municipality, and societal partners to address urgent urban issues.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on cooperative urban development models, with a strong emphasis on empirical case studies in Amsterdam.
• Develop analytical frameworks that provide an integrated view of financial and societal costs and benefits, directly relevant to urban policy and investment decisions.
• Actively contribute to knowledge exchange and co-creation with urban partners and financial institutions, including through the AMS Institute.
• Explore opportunities for follow-up research and external funding.

Requirements

• Relevant network in Amsterdam—preferably within cooperative movements and projects in the housing or energy sectors (an asset).
• Able to bridge scientific knowledge generation with societal impact.
• Doctorate in a relevant field (urban economics, planning, sustainability, or related discipline).

What We Offer

• An initial one-year contract with the possibility of extension for the project duration, based on good performance and organizational circumstances.
• Salary range €3,546–€5,538 gross per month (scale 10 CAO-NU) for a full-time (38-hour) week.
• Excellent pension scheme and other benefits under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Work at the greenest, most innovative campus in the Netherlands, with an international and open working environment.
• Support for international employees: visa application assistance, advice on housing, banking, dual career programs, and schooling. Certain categories may be eligible for a tax exemption on part of their salary for the first five years.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the WUR website by 10 August 2026. Internal candidates are encouraged to apply before 17 July 2026. Only applications received via the official portal will be considered. As part of the selection process, an assessment may be incorporated.

For questions about this position, contact Eveline van Leeuwen or Dorus Stokhof. For procedural inquiries, contact Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter. No employment agencies, please.

Original vacancy