Postdoc: Climate Adaptation Pathways for Critical Infrastructure

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam); Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 39,573 - 61,804; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

8.3% end-of-year bonus

ABP pension

Job summary

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (IVM) invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to contribute to the TASICI project on transformative adaptation strategies for interdependent infrastructure. You will develop quantitative models and adaptation pathways, working with Rijkswaterstaat, ProRail, Schiphol, Port of Rotterdam and Vervoerregio Amsterdam to integrate data, governance and stakeholder input.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, supervise students, and disseminate findings through

Qualifications

• PhD required or equivalent
• Strong quantitative modelling and data analysis skills
• Experience with programming (Python preferred).
• Knowledge of climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience.
• Excellent communication in Dutch and English; Dutch fluency required.

Responsibilities

• Develop frameworks for climate adaptation pathways for critical infrastructure.
• Analyze climate risks, adaptation options and resilience across networks.
• Build and maintain databases of adaptation measures and evaluate with quantitative methods.
• Collaborate with infrastructure operators via workshops, interviews and co-creation.
• Publish results in international journals and present at conferences.
• Supervise MSc and PhD students and support ongoing research.

Skills

Quantitative modelling

Data analysis

Programming (Python)

Climate adaptation

Uncertainty analysis

Oral and written communication (Dutch/

Education

PhD in civil engineering, environmental sciences, geography, OR or related discipline

Job description

Your function

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will contribute to the TASICI project (Transformative Adaptation Strategies for Interdependent Critical Infrastructure), a NWO-funded multidisciplinary research programme that brings together researchers, infrastructure operators, and public stakeholders to develop climate adaptation strategies for interconnected infrastructure systems in the Netherlands. The project focuses on major infrastructure corridors, including the Greater Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and the Rhine–Alpine Corridor, and aims to support system-wide prioritisation, resource allocation, and governance for climate adaptation.

Within TASICI, you will work on research activities in Work Package 2, which focuses on the development of adaptation pathways for critical infrastructure systems facing increasing climate risks. You will work closely with infrastructure operators including Rijkswaterstaat, ProRail, Schiphol Airport, Port of Rotterdam and Vervoerregio Amsterdam to combine quantitative modelling, adaptation planning and stakeholder engagement into actionable climate resilience strategies.

Your duties

• you develop innovative frameworks for climate adaptation pathways for critical infrastructure systems
• you analyze climate risks, adaptation options and resilience strategies across interconnected infrastructure networks
• you build and maintain databases of adaptation measures and evaluate their effectiveness using quantitative methods
• you collaborate closely with infrastructure operators through workshops, interviews and co-creation activities
• you publish results in international scientific journals and present findings at conferences and stakeholder events
• you contribute to the supervision of MSc and PhD students and support ongoing research activities within the project

Your profile

• you have a PhD degree in civil engineering, environmental sciences, geography, operational research or a related discipline
• you have demonstrable experience with quantitative modelling, data analysis and programming, preferably in Python
• you have knowledge of climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience, decision making under (deep) uncertainty or cost benefit analysis
• you have excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch and English; fluency in Dutch is required because of the extensive collaboration with Dutch infrastructure operators and government stakeholders
• you have experience working in multidisciplinary research projects and are able to work independently as well as collaboratively

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

Education

An exciting postdoc position in a socially-engaged organisation with a supportive project team and an active early-career scientist community. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.546,00 (Scale 10.0) and maximum € 5.538,00 (Scale 10.12) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher 4. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially start with a 1 year contract with the possibility to extend with another 2 years.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

About Us

Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)
Established in 1971, IVM (http://www.vu.nl/ivm) is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high-quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Geography, Environmental Policy Analysis; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM has been part of the Faculty of Science at VU Amsterdam (legal name Stichting VU).

The department of Water and Climate Risk (https://vu.nl/en/about-vu/research-institutes/institute-for-environmental-studies-ivm/more-about/research-water-and-climate-risk-ivm)(WCR) studies hydrological and climate processes, and how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. A defining characteristic of the department is a multi-disciplinary approach that combines expertise from natural sciences with knowledge from the fields of economics, e-Science and geography. This approach has led to a unique research portfolio of water and climate risk projects, and the department is a global leading institute in flood and drought risk assessment, and risk management research.

Faculty of Science

Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.

From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programms and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct (https://vu.nl/en/about-vu/more-about/code-of-conduct-vu-amsterdam)

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity

Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.

We are not considering applications by email. Please apply through the official portal.

The job interviews are planned in the week of 7 September, so please take this into account when applying for the position.

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.