Postdoc in Justice and Climate Policy Pathways for Societal Readiness

Erasmus University Rotterdam via AcademicTransfer; Nederland; On-site; EUR 41,000 - 64,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days paid leave

8% holiday pay

8.3% end-of-year bonus

Remote work option

Job summary

Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS, Den Haag) seeks a highly motivated researcher to co-design Just Climate Policy Pathways and assess equity in climate responses. The 0.5 FTE position is temporary, starting 01-FEB-2027, with an initial offer for one year and renewal possible for two more years.

You will develop systematic methodologies, collate data at multiple levels, and lead reviews of SSP extensions, engaging with academics, policymakers, and city managers.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field (development studies, climate policy, urban climate).
• Experience with large datasets and SSP data is desirable.
• Strong writing and collaboration with policymakers.

Responsibilities

• Lead in developing JCPPs and equity analyses across urban contexts.
• Collate urban to international data to synthesize readiness for climate action.
• Validate SSP extensions and engage with stakeholders in policy-making.

Skills

Transdisciplinary methods

Large datasets

Policy & urban climate

SSP data familiarity

Education

PhD required

Job description

Environmental science » Natural resources management

Organisation/Company Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) Research Field Environmental science » Global change Environmental science » Natural resources management Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 14 Nov 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 19.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Are you a highly motivated, self-driven person interested in working with a strong team of researchers passionate about climate change, equity, and justice at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)? With relevant expertise and experience, this position might be for you!

We are seeking someone with the knowledge and experience to co-produce narratives and storylines to support modeling climate policy readiness with justice and equity dimensions. Skills in multidisciplinary methods and statistical modelling, as well as experience working with Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) for climate analysis, are highly relevant. ISS offers a collaborative and collegial working environment in The Hague.

Job description

You will develop a systematic methodology for co-designing and validating Just Climate Policy Pathways (JCPPs). This will involve creating storylines, metrics, and matrices to assess the enablers and challenges associated with climate policy responses. A key responsibility will be to lead a systematic review of JCPPs and their potential to extend the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), as well as examine their application across six urban case studies: Lisbon, Trondheim, Zagreb, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Lusaka. In addition, you will synthesize context-specific data and develop climate policy scenarios to support engagement with policymakers on feasible response actions at local, regional, and international levels. The role also includes evaluating how co-developed JCPPs can enhance the SSP framework by incorporating dimensions of equity and justice, drawing on evidence from the urban case studies and global datasets.

The most important elements of the role include the following:

• Lead in developing a systematic methodological approach to analyzing Justice and Equity associated with adaptation and mitigation of climate change within the “Re-assessing Climate Policies for Equity and Justice Through Societal Readiness” (ReCAPS) project
• Collate data at the urban, national, regional, and international levels to synthesize evidence on societal readiness for climate action
• Co-design storylines for Just Climate Policy Pathways (JCPPs), including metrics to validate climate policy implementation
• Co-develop equity and justice matrices from urban context cases to identify enablers and barriers
• Validate the extension of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) and the feasibility of the developed Just Climate Policy Pathways (JCPPs)
• Assess the performance of JCPPs 1–5 in each urban context case study under the project.
• A PhD in any of the fields including: international development, development studies, climate policy analysis, statistical modelling, urban climate analysis, or a related field
• Transdisciplinary methodological skills and at least one year of postdoctoral research experience, including experience working with large datasets and engaging with diverse stakeholders (e.g., academics, policymakers, and city managers) when conducting research
• Experience in conceptualizing and developing methodological approaches, analyzing data, and writing systematic reviews
• Additional desirable skills include experience working with IPCC Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) data, climate-resilient development pathways, and integrated assessment models used in IPCC scenarios. Experience in organizing and facilitating workshops and meetings with diverse stakeholders is also considered an asset.

Additional Information

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The preferred start date of this position is 01-FEB-2027 and you will be based at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in Den Haag. This position is for 0.5 fte. The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 3.706,- to a maximum of € 5.760,- gross per month on a fulltime basis, in accordance with scale 10.0 of the CAO-NU. The advertised position is with an initial offer for one year and the possibility for renewal for further two years.

Everything else we offer you; you can find below!

• Everything you need for a good work-life balance : the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre !
• Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the Expat-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Erasmus University Rotterdam continuously strives to be an equitable and inclusive employer and invites all applicants, regardless of background gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, or any other aspect that makes someone unique, to apply.

Additional comments

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained by contacting Prof. Shuaib Lwasa ( [e-mail] or 0634458339).