PhD: Impact Evaluation of Climate Policies in Agricultural and Forest Landscapes (EU Horizon PolicyForClimate) - Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands

About the Position

Wageningen University & Research advertises a PhD position on impact evaluation of climate policies in agricultural and forest landscapes, within the EU Horizon project PolicyForClimate. The project assesses how climate policies - from payment schemes to regulation - change land-use decisions and emissions across agricultural and forest landscapes, combining econometric impact evaluation with land-systems modelling and case studies across Europe and partner regions. The doctoral candidate will design quasi-experimental evaluations, work with policy and geospatial datasets, and contribute to project publications.

Wageningen is a global leader in agri-food, environmental and land research, and the doctoral position offers a unique combination of policy-econometrics training and land-systems science. The employment is a salaried four-year PhD position under the Dutch CAO-NU collective agreement, embedded in a project consortium spanning European research institutes and policy partners, with travel to project meetings and case-study regions.

Candidate Profile

Applicants hold a master's degree in environmental economics, environmental science, geography, agricultural economics or a related discipline, with solid quantitative training and interest in policy evaluation. Experience with statistical evaluation methods, GIS or land-use data is an advantage. Applications are submitted through the WUR careers site, and the closing date for applications is 4 November 2026.

Highlights

• PhD on climate-policy impact evaluation (EU Horizon PolicyForClimate)
• Agricultural and forest landscape focus
• Quasi-experimental evaluation and land-systems modelling
• European consortium with policy partners
• Salaried four-year position per the CAO-NU agreement (WUR)
• Closing date: 4 November 2026

Funding and Duration

Component	Details
Award or position	PhD fellowship / salaried position
Stipend / salary	Salaried PhD position per the CAO-NU collective agreement (WUR)
Duration	Four years (PhD employment)

Eligibility and Requirements

Component	Details
Applicant eligibility	Worldwide
Academic preparation	Master's in environmental science, economics, geography or a related field
Language	English proficiency required

Application dates

Component	Details
Recruitment status	Open
Deadline	4 November 2026
Location	Wageningen, Netherlands

About Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research is a Dutch institution focused on life sciences, agriculture, food and the environment. It combines university education with research addressing sustainable food systems and living environments. Its programmes and projects connect biological, environmental and social perspectives, supporting collaboration with academic institutions, industry and public organisations worldwide.

Official details: Read the programme or project information

Application route: Follow the official application instructions

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

Important Notes

• Application deadline: 4 November 2026 - late or incomplete applications are normally not considered.
• Listing details were recorded from the official source at the time of publication; always confirm the latest requirements on the official page before applying.
• Prepare the documents listed in the eligibility and application sections before starting the online form - transcripts, CV and references take the longest to collect.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the official page before the deadline: 4 November 2026. Read the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare all requested documents - early applications are strongly recommended for competitive awards.

Open the official application page ↗

Application guides

• How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter: Emails and Preparation
• SOP, Personal Statement or Research Proposal: What Each Document Does

Official Link

https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/phd-impact-evaluation-climate-policies-agricultural-and-forest-landscapes