The PhD candidate will conduct interdisciplinary research on the respiratory health impacts of children in Amsterdam Southeast, and how urban greenspace interventions can mitigate these impacts.

You will become integral part of the NWO/FAPESP-funded research project REACH, in which several researchers from different scientific disciplines within the University of Amsterdam and the University of São Paulo participate (urban studies, medical sciences, psychology, law, sustainability sciences).

You will/tasks:

• Write and complete a PhD dissertation within four years, which will include:
  • A quantitative vulnerability and risk assessment which maps hydro-meteorologic and pediatric respiratory health risks using intersectionality as a lens. This assessment combines mechanistic pathway mapping based on secondary data (i.e. to determine the effect of an environmental stressors on pediatric respiratory disease outcomes) with in-depth qualitative interviews with caregivers of children (like parents, GPs, local youth and health care officials) to account for intersecting social identities shaping heat risk experiences;
  • A qualitative examination of dominant urban greenspace planning and management regimes, and their impacts on communities. You will conduct interviews with caregivers, residents and public officials to understand the relationships between health, greening and climate change;
  • An integrated, multi-scalar analysis of pediatric respiratory health risks, heat & pollution, linking bodily experiences of exposure to heat with political-economic systems and urban environments shaping these experiences;
  • A ranking of existing greenspace interventions and prioritization of future interventions.
• Participate in the PhD program of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research; 
• Assist in the (under)graduate education programmes of our department (10% teaching);
• Join the research groups of UP and AUMC and co-organize seminars and workshops;
• Participate in international conferences, workshops, seminars and other scholarly activities.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and curious candidate who has a passion for doing research and is keen on working on issues at the intersection of climate adaptation, public health and environmental justice in urban contexts. You have an interest in conducting fieldwork, as well as bridging different theories and concepts. The successful candidate will be able to adjust to different and unexpected conditions, work across disciplinary boundaries, and find creative solutions to research problems.

Candidates should hold a (Research) Master's degree in human geography, urban and regional planning, urban studies, public health, global health, medicine (MD), biomedical sciences, environmental studies, and/or an interdisciplinary Master’s degree bridging these fields. Preference will be given to participants with experience across more than one of the aforementioned disciplines.

Successful candidates are those who:

• Are passionate about and have demonstrated aptitude for conducting interdisciplinary research;
• Have demonstrated experience doing fieldwork in unfamiliar settings;
• Have demonstrated experience with mixed methods research approaches, combining qualitative and qualitative methods;
• Have very good writing skills and are able to develop critical complex arguments;
• Have very good English skills (written and verbal)
• Preferably speak Dutch (relevant to the fieldwork in Amsterdam Southeast);
• Are a team player and able to work independently.

• An enthusiastic and warm interdisciplinary supervision team with whom you will collaborate in research and publications;
• An international research network including conference visits;
• Resources for fieldwork;
• Further professional development and education through courses and other opportunities provided by the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research.