About the Program
The University of Groningen is offering a fully-funded 4-year PhD position in Environmental Heritage of the Afsluitdijk Area of the Netherlands. This exciting project is supervised by Canan Çakırlar, Laura Govers, Daniella Vos, Federica Marulo, and Willemien de Kock and sits within the Environmental Heritage Research Group of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development. The research will explore how the Afsluitdijk transformed the sea ecosystem of the Zuiderzee, while also examining the cultural, ecological, and policy dimensions of this historic engineering project. Using biomolecular-archaeological analysis, archival research, interviews, and spatial mapping, the PhD will bring together human and more-than-human perspectives to foster sustainable and inclusive policy dialogues. This position offers an interdisciplinary academic environment with strong institutional support and active collaboration across faculties.
Program Details
- Position: Fully-funded PhD Position / Doctoral Researcher
- Institution: University of Groningen
- Department/Faculty: Groningen Institute of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts; Faculty of Spatial Sciences; GELIFES, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Supervisors: Canan Çakırlar, Laura Govers, Daniella Vos, Federica Marulo, Willemien de Kock
- Location: Groningen, The Netherlands
- Start Date (Anticipated): 1 December 2025
- Duration: 4 years
- Funding: Fully-funded (salary €2,901 – €3,707/month, plus holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus)
- Working Hours: Full-time (1.0 FTE, including 0.4 FTE teaching duties in later years)
- Required Degree/Diploma: Master’s degree in a relevant discipline
Research Focus/Area
- Environmental heritage and sustainable seascapes
- Marine (historical) ecology and biomolecular-archaeological analysis
- Spatial policy design and heritage studies
- Archival research, interviews, and interactive mapping
- Climate change, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Master’s degree (or nearly completed) in archaeology, ecology, marine biology, geography, history, anthropology, heritage, historical ecology, or environmental history
- Excellent command of English (meeting University requirements)
- Good command of Dutch
- Strong digital and quantitative skills (GIS, statistical analysis)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Interdisciplinary research experience
- Strong academic record
- Demonstrated ability in lab, archival, or interview-based research
- Enthusiasm for policy-relevant communication and community collaboration
Key Features of the Program
- Interdisciplinary supervision across three faculties
- Participation in the PhD/i learning community for interfaculty PhDs
- Opportunities to present at international conferences
- Organisation of collaborative knowledge-sharing activities with NGOs, policymakers, and local communities
- Access to advanced lab facilities and digital mapping tools
Application Process
How to Apply: Submit your application via the University of Groningen online application portal.
Required Documents:
- Motivation letter
- Curriculum vitae
- One-page research proposal
- Contact details of two academic referees
- Transcripts of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
- (Re)Master thesis (uploaded as separate PDF)
Important Dates
- Applications Open: Now
- Deadline: 14 September 2025, 11:59 PM CEST
- Interviews: Last week of September 2025
Where to Apply
- University Website: University of Groningen
- Official Notification: PhD Environmental Heritage Afsluitdijk – University of Groningen
- Application Portal: Apply Here – University of Groningen
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