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PhD position on Transitioning public organizations for future-proof infrastructure

Do you enjoy conducting socially engaged research within an interdisciplinary team? Would you like to collaborate closely with both practitioners and academics to contribute to our living environment? If so, this position could be an excellent fit for you!

Apply now
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Key takeaways

  • Hours
    40 hr.
  • Salary indication
    Salary gross/monthly
    based on full-time
    € 2,872 - € 3,670
  • Deadline
    14 Oct 2024

Society is facing major challenges like circularity, digitalisation and climate adaptation. These challenges have a significant impact on our built environment and the actors that operate in this field. Addressing these challenges requires a fundamental change in how public organisations operate and coordinate themselves and their relations with private parties.

This PhD project aims to develop organisational principles and action perspectives to help infrastructure agencies that maintain our roads, bridges, waterways, electricity networks and railways adapt to these emerging challenges. The PhD candidate will focus on bridging the gap between mission-oriented policies, organisational strategies and project practices,. They will work across multiple levels, studying how infrastructure administrators handle uncertainty and complexity at the organisational and inter-organisational level.

The candidate will actively engage with Dutch (semi) public organisations to co-create integrated solutions for a resilient infrastructure sector, gain experience in different professional settings, and operate at the intersection of various academic disciplines. This requires a curiosity for interdisciplinary and qualitative empirical research and a sense of urgency for turning theory into practice and practice into theory.

Your profile

  • You have, or will shortly acquire, a master’s degree in the field of in organizational studies, construction management, civil engineering & management, innovation sciences, management studies, or a related discipline.
  • Strong interest in and affinity for (1) organizational transformation, (2) behavioural change, and/or (3) design thinking.
  • Eager to explore new research directions and flexible to adapt the research process to new developments and insights.
  • Comfortable at the interface of academia and practice, demonstrating effective communication skills in both.
  • Interested in managing networks and relations with practitioners.
  • You have excellent speaking and academic writing skills in English.
  • You have effective operational proficiency in Dutch (minimum C1 level).

Our offer

  • As a PhD candidate at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment.
  • Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).
  • You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 2.872 (first year) to € 3.670,- (fourth year)
  • There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme.
  • A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
  • Free access to sports facilities on campus.
  • A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid).
  • You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision.
  • We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and industry practitioners.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before 15th October 2024, and include:

·         A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, motivations to apply for this position.

·         A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.

·         Contact information of two scientific staff members (one of whom could be the supervisor of your MSc thesis/final project) who we may contact for references.

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Ruth Sloot (r.n.f.sloot@utwente.nl).

Date of first round interviews:

Date of second round interviews:

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About the department

You will work in the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) research group at the faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) of the University of Twente. The Integrated Project Delivery group envisions sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure through integrated project delivery. To achieve this vision, the IPD research group’s mission is to contribute to innovative solutions on different levels in which socio-technical transitions take shape, ranging from sector dynamics to project practices. This asks for interdisciplinary research, in which different disciplines and fields like civil engineering, organisational sciences and design sciences are combined. Our mission is guided by two research lines, each addressing two levels on which innovations are developed: 1) resilient infrastructure systems, and 2) value-based project and programme delivery of infrastructure assets.

About the organisation

The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

Want to know more

Sloot, R.N.F. (Ruth)

Sloot, R.N.F. (Ruth)
Assistant Professor

Sloot, R.N.F. (Ruth)
Assistant Professor

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Then you can contact Ruth for all substantive questions about this position and the application procedure. For general questions about working for the UT, please refer to the chatbot.

How to apply

Step 1

Apply.
When you see a vacancy that appeals to you, you can apply online. We ask you to upload a CV and motivation letter and/or list of publications. You will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-mail.

Apply now

Step 2

Selection.
The selection committee will review your application and you will receive a response within 2 weeks after the vacancy has been closed.

Step 3

1st interview.
The 1st (online or in person) meeting serves as an introduction where we introduce ourselves to you and you to us. You may be asked to give a short presentation. This will be further explained in the invitation.

Step 4

2nd interview.
In the second interview, we will further discuss the job content, your skills and your talents.

Step 5

The offer.
If the conversations are positive, you will be made a suitable offer. If applicable, we will sign you up for screening.

Your Colleagues

About The Faculty ET

Curious about what the Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) stands for? Check out the ET website for more information.

A job that matters

Create new opportunities for yourself, your colleagues and our society. Scientist or teacher, administrator or facilitator, thinker or doer, energetic leader or silent support – your work at the University of Twente matters. And you too!

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