We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Blue Planet Governance to join the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. In this role, you will examine whether and how emerging ocean-based climate and sustainability strategies can be governed in the Anthropocene, where interventions increasingly unfold amid scientific uncertainty, political contestation, institutional complexity, and ecological interdependence.
This is a three-year position supported by two externally funded research projects: the ERC-funded project ProblemShifting and the EU Horizon project MAR-CO2. Together, these projects create a common research agenda around how emerging climate and sustainability interventions can be understood, assessed, and governed in ways that account for their risks, trade-offs, and wider consequences. The research will have a strong focus on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) as a timely and policy-relevant case, while also allowing scope to examine related technological interventions with planetary-scale implications.
In this role, you will work at the intersection of global sustainability governance, ocean governance, international law, international relations, science and technology studies, and mCDR policy. You will be part of an interdisciplinary research environment and will work closely with the project teams directed by Rak Kim and Miranda Boettcher.
Your main responsibility will be to take a leading role in collaborative research that contributes to the objectives and deliverables of both projects. This will include producing high-quality academic outputs, as well as contributing to project reports, transdisciplinary workshops, participatory foresight scenario development processes, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination activities.
Your responsibilities will include:
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conducting collaborative research within the ProblemShifting and MAR-CO2 projects;
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analysing governance, legal, policy, and institutional developments related to ocean-based climate mitigation, marine carbon dioxide removal, geoengineering and/or global sustainability governance;
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collecting and analysing qualitative data, such as policy documents, legal texts, interviews, institutional records, scientific reports, and stakeholder materials;
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contributing to project deliverables, academic publications and other research outputs;
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organizing project meetings, workshops, conferences, and stakeholder activities;
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contributing to a limited amount of teaching and/or student supervision, where this supports your academic development and aligns with your expertise.
We are looking for a candidate who brings strong theoretical expertise, methodological skills, and practical knowledge to the study of earth system governance through the lens of problem shifting and mCDR/marine geoengineering.
You have:
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a completed PhD in a relevant field, such as international relations, international law, global governance, environmental governance, political science, public policy, sustainability studies, science and technology studies, or a related discipline;
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a strong research profile relevant to one or more of the following areas: global environmental governance, international environmental law, ocean governance, climate governance, marine carbon dioxide removal, or geoengineering governance;
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excellent qualitative research skills, including experience with qualitative data collection and analysis, such as document analysis, interviews, legal analysis, policy analysis, discourse analysis, process tracing, or comparative case study research;
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the ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary project team;
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strong analytical and conceptual skills, with the ability to connect empirical research to broader theoretical debates;
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excellent academic writing skills and the ambition to publish in leading international peer-reviewed journals;
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excellent command of English.
The following would be considered an advantage:
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specific expertise in marine carbon dioxide removal, geoengineering governance, or the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus;
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methodological expertise in empirical analysis of governance, law, policy or institutions;
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experience with participatory/qualitative foresight scenarios development methodologies
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quantitative, data science or computational social science skills, for example in network analysis, agent-based modelling, system dynamics modelling, text-as-data methods, natural language processing, machine learning, data visualization, or other relevant methods;
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experience with qualitative data analysis software and/or programming languages such as R or Python;
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experience working in externally funded research projects;
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experience engaging with policymakers, practitioners, stakeholders, or international institutions.
We offer:
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a full-time position of 1.0 FTE for three years, subject to final funding and administrative arrangements, ideally starting on 1 September 2026;
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a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 4.075 and €4.412 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10.3 - 10.5 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
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8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
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a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.
In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.
Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.
For more information about this position, please contact Rak Kim at [email protected]
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.
As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.
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To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.
