Postdoctoral Researcher: Urban-Ocean Nexus

For our new NWO Cooperation Indonesia - Netherlands Merian Fund project “The Urban-Ocean Nexus: Towards Developing Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Blue Economy in Indonesia and the Netherlands” at the International Development Studies (IDS) section of Human Geography and Spatial Planning Department, we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher.

Your job

The project background
The blue economy is increasingly vital for maritime countries such as Indonesia and the Netherlands. The ocean supports diverse functions, including biodiversity conservation, carbon sink, energy production, fisheries, aquaculture, transportation, and tourism. Proponents emphasize the benefits of a diversified blue economy for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Critics, however, contend that the blue economy leads to new territorial and resource conflicts, displacements of coastal communities, and degradation of ecosystems because of the increased infrastructure development. Both arguments fail to recognize that maritime countries such as Indonesia and the Netherlands have been urbanizing, with blue economy development and urbanization processes intricately linked, coshaping urban and blue frontiers in the coastal and offshore spaces.

As urbanization expands the seaward frontier of infrastructure development and blue economy development causes landward flows of materials and people, this project conceptualizes a novel, ‘urban-ocean’ nexus to assess the impacts of the urban and blue frontier development and to align marine spatial planning and urban planning in coastal and offshore areas. Specifically, the project applies this urban-ocean nexus to coastal and offshore areas of the Makassar Strait in Kalimantan in Indonesia and the North Sea off the Netherlands’ coast. The overall objectives of the project include: (1) to map and assess seaward and landward impacts of urban and blue infrastructure development on coastal and marine environments and territories; (2) to develop and apply a practical model to address the impacts and establish synergies between marine spatial planning and urban planning; and (3) to create a platform of co-creation and exchange of knowledge and experiences between researchers, students, and practitioners to design desirable urban and ocean governance arrangements. Through an inter-and-transdisciplinary approach and based on a well-established Indonesian-Dutch research consortium, this project contributes to multiple SDGs while advancing the Indonesian Vision 2045 and Blue Economy Roadmaps of Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Within this Urban-Ocean Nexus project, the postdoctoral researcher will lead a work package on “social impacts of the urban-blue frontier expansion in Indonesia and the Netherlands”. The researcher will focus on the issue of social inclusions and the changing water and society relationship due to the urban-blue frontier expansion. The central questions are: how do relations between water and society change, and how can we frame an instrumental understanding of water vis-à-vis the rights of nature? Furthermore, how does such an emic, cultural understanding of water and vegetation vary among different social groups, and how should they be included in outlining new forms of governance to establish alternative visions of the blue economy? The researcher is expected to perform well in the large international research consortium, both collaboratively and independently while mentoring the project’s PhD researcher and master students who will conduct research within the project. Your specific tasks include:

• Conducting field research in collaboration with other researchers in the project in Indonesia and the Netherlands;
• Actively organizing meetings in international conferences and symposiums and workshops to set the research agenda with wider groups of colleagues;
• Publishing the research results in international academic journals;
• Engaging in impact activities to expand our networks of societal partners, expose our research to wider public, and embed the research result in policy-making and advocacy activities;
• Conceiving new research proposals;
• Teaching relevant master and bachelor courses and supervising student thesis projects at the IDS section (max. 10% of the appointment).

Your qualities

You are an enthusiastic and motivated researcher who has:

• A PhD degree (or you have the date for the PhD public defense) in relevant social science discipline such as development studies, human geography and planning, and political ecology;
• Strong international publication track record or the potential to build one, in particular in relation to the project’s subject (pertaining to urbanization, water and ocean’s sustainable, just and inclusive development);
• Strong field research skills including interviewing, observation and writing;
• Strong impact activity track record such as producing other products than academic outputs such as media reports, film making, and/or social media presence to reach wider audience of our research activities;
• The ability to work both independently and as part of an international team;
• Proficiency in Indonesian and English, and commitment to learn the Dutch language;
• Extensive knowledge on development issues in Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position (0,8 FTE) for 36 months, depending on a positive evaluation after the first nine months of employment.
• a gross monthly salary between €3.706 and €5.760 (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)). The salary is based on a 38-hour working week;
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment set out in our collective labour agreement, we offer attractive additional benefits, including opportunities for personal and professional growth, flexible leave arrangements, and extra vacation days. Through the UU Terms of Employment Options Model, you can tailor your employment package to your needs. In this way, we encourage you to grow in what you do, both in your work and in your development. Read more about our terms of employment.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Kei Otsuki at k.otsuki@uu.nl

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

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To apply, please send your curriculum vitae specifying the date of your PhD degree/ date of approval of the PhD dissertation, and a letter of motivation via the 'apply now' button. No other attachments are needed at this stage.

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-November 2026.

Intended starting date: as soon as possible.