PhD in Resilience against Disaster and War in the Netherlands at Wageningen, Netherlands

About the Position

Wageningen University & Research is recruiting a doctoral researcher to study societal resilience against disaster and war in the Netherlands. The project asks who participates in resilience initiatives, who makes decisions and who benefits.

Research Position Overview

Conduct comparative qualitative fieldwork with municipalities, Safety Regions and other resilience actors. Analyse how government and community initiatives organise participation and distribute responsibilities, working within Sociology of Development and Change.

Research Areas

• Community resilience
• Disaster sociology
• Crisis preparedness

Funding and Duration

Employment and financial support

Component	Details
Position	PhD researcher
Salary	€3,204–€4,051 gross per month for a 38-hour working week, increasing with doctoral year.
Duration	Four years, full-time (38 hours per week): initial 18-month contract, extended subject to satisfactory progress.
Programme / host support	Salaried doctoral employment in the host research group identified in the official vacancy.
Benefits	8.3% year-end bonus and pension arrangements; other benefits follow the university employment conditions.

Eligibility and Requirements

Academic preparation and appointment conditions

Component	Details
Applicant eligibility	Dutch-language fieldwork and the VOG requirement are explicit recruitment conditions.
Academic preparation	MSc in a relevant social science, including public or business administration.
Research skills	Qualitative methods, critical analysis and the ability to develop an independent empirical research project.
Language	Fluent Dutch and C1-level English are required.

Application dates

Recruitment dates and location

Component	Details
Recruitment status	Open when verified against the official source
Deadline	2 November 2026
Start date	Not specified in the vacancy.
Location	Wageningen, Netherlands

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: 2 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

• CV: maximum two pages.
• Motivation letter: maximum one page; keep the initial submission within three pages.

Submit through the application system linked from the official vacancy. Follow its current document and translation instructions.

Selection and Contact

Interviews are planned for 20 November 2026. The selected applicant must provide a certificate of conduct (VOG).

Research contact: Jori Kalkman; supervisory team includes Bram Büscher and Esther van ’t Veen.

About Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research works across food, agriculture, environment and society. The vacancy identifies the specific chair group and supervisory team responsible for this project.

Official Link

Official vacancy reviewed on 15 October 2026. The employer’s current notice governs application requirements and employment terms.

Read the official vacancy and application instructions

Application guides

• How to Email a PhD Supervisor: 7 Templates and Practical Tips
• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps

English language requirements

No IELTS or TOEFL certificate is requested for this employed Dutch position; English is assessed through the application documents and an interview in English.