Postdoc Nature Based Schoolyards

Laplace Apply; Amsterdam; Hybride; EUR 41 000 - 64 000; Temps partiel

Résumé du poste

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking a Resilient Roots postdoc to explore how nature-based schoolyards influence community wellbeing across four European cities, using surveys, observations, interviews and co-design. The role combines fieldwork and project coordination, with a 0.8 FTE contract in Amsterdam for 12 months, possible extension, and a salary scale of EUR 3,706–5,760 gross per month.

Dutch language is preferred for local stakeholder work, while English suffices for international

Qualifications

• Completed or near-completion PhD in environmental psychology or related field.
• Experience designing and reporting both qualitative and quantitative studies.
• Strong project coordination and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsabilités

• Lead mixed-methods research across European case studies.
• Coordinate international project activities and reporting.
• Publish research findings and contribute to consortium outputs.
• Engage with schools, municipalities and NGOs.

Connaissances

Observational studies

Surveys

Qualitative interviewing

Mixed-methods research

Participatory co-design

Project coordination

Stakeholder interviewing

Cross-country collaboration

Research reporting

Co-design facilitation

Formation

PhD in environmental psychology

Description du poste

Postdoc in Nature-Based Schoolyards, Community Wellbeing and Urban Green Space

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences / Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology / Vitamin G lab

Netherlands

About This Opportunity

VU Amsterdam seeks a Resilient Roots postdoc to study community wellbeing around nature-based schoolyards in four European cities using surveys, observation, interviews and co-design.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for Resilient Roots, a collaborative European project examining how nature-based schoolyards can benefit communities beyond the school itself. Green schoolyards are often justified by child development, urban biodiversity and climate resilience, but this particular work asks how shared green educational spaces can support wider community use and wellbeing. Partners include universities, municipalities and NGOs in the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain.The postdoc will investigate community access and wellbeing using case studies in four European cities. Advertised approaches include structured observations, surveys, stakeholder interviews and participatory co-design of strategies that improve use and wellbeing. The role also carries project coordination responsibilities: tracking progress, preparing reports and helping manage delivery with international partners. The researcher is expected to lead scientific publications and contribute to the project's collaborative outputs. The institutional host is the Vitamin G research lab within the Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology; daily supervision is provided by Dr Nicole van den Bogerd, with Dr Jolanda Maas leading the research group.Candidates should have a completed or nearly completed relevant PhD in environmental psychology, sociology, geography, urban studies, health sciences or closely connected areas. Experience designing, conducting and reporting both qualitative and quantitative studies is required, as are research planning and project-management capabilities. Strong spoken and written English is expected. Dutch is preferred because interviews and participatory work involve local stakeholders in the Netherlands, but it is not explicitly a mandatory language threshold.

The position is based in Amsterdam at 0.8 FTE (30.4 hours per week), initially for 12 months, with possible extension, depending on satisfactory progress and institutional conditions. The published salary scale is EUR 3,706–5,760 gross per month on a full-time basis; part-time payment should be interpreted proportionally rather than as a guaranteed 0.8-FTE take-home figure. The university lists holiday and end-of-year allowances and some scope for working from home. Applications close 19 November 2026 and the listing schedules interviews for 27 November 2026.

Who This Opportunity Is Best Suited For:

Based on the stated fieldwork and coordination requirements, the role may particularly suit environmental or social-science postdocs who combine mixed-methods urban health research with participatory work among schools, local authorities or community stakeholders. Researchers comfortable managing international case-study delivery and turning interviews and survey data into policy-relevant publications are especially well aligned.

Potential Challenges / Who May Find It Less Suitable:

The work is not solely desk-based: it includes stakeholder engagement and empirical case-study research, with Dutch language ability a practical advantage. Project coordination and reporting form part of the remit. The 0.8-FTE appointment begins with a fixed 12-month contract, and the stated monthly scale is for full-time employment rather than the pro-rated working arrangement.

Overall Opportunity Assessment:

The project offers an unusually direct connection between research on urban nature, municipal governance and applied community co-design across several countries. Applicants should assess their fit with the mixed-methods and international delivery requirements alongside the part-time salary and conditional extension.

nature-based schoolyards urban green space community wellbeing participatory co-design Resilient Roots

Level Postdoc

Attendance Hybrid

Time Commitment Part-time

Duration 12 months initially, possible extension up to three years subject to conditions

Reference Code 5994

Field Environmental Psychology

Specialization Urban Studies

Organization Type University

Funding & Compensation

Amount EUR 3,706-5,760 / Per Month

Funding Type Salary

Funding Status Paid

Period Per Month

Requirements

Education

Completed or nearly finished PhD in environmental psychology, sociology, geography, urban studies, health sciences or related topic.

Experience

Qualitative and quantitative study design, implementation and reporting; research project coordination and organisational skills.

Technical Skills

Observational studies Surveys Qualitative interviewing Mixed-methods research Participatory co-design

General Skills

Project coordination Stakeholder interviewing Cross-country collaboration Research reporting Co-design facilitation