PhD researcher position Urban trends

VU Hoofdgebouw

Amsterdam

1 / 1

School of Business and Economics

PhD

MSc

Sluit op

30-01-2026

Publicatiedatum

15-01-2026

Solliciteer direct

Ambitious scholar in spatial data analysis? Explore how cities evolve and apply for a joint PhD at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.

Your function

This PhD project is a part of the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership programme (CDP), an initiative by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to train a new generation of doctoral graduates on the science-policy interface. For this joint project with the JRC of the European Commission we are looking for a Phd candidate to analyze urban trends. Using detailed spatial data, you will analyze changes in the physical manifestation of cities. So, how does the urban area develop because of current and ongoing demographic, economic and social transitions? How do these forces steer the amount and location of urban change? How do they influence each other and how do they interact with governments that try to steer urban development?

You will study these recent urban development trends at three scale levels: global, continental and national. In doing so we hope to be able to study the more generic drivers that govern urban development processes at large, while also being able to address the importance of local conditions and institutional settings that steer development on the ground. Using a variety of case studies also allows studying diverging trends, e.g. paying attention to both population growth and decline. The analysis will build upon recent detailed spatially explicit data developed by the JRC and others, applying state-of-the art quantitative (e.g., econometric) techniques.

Specific research topics include:

What is driving urban density trends around the world? Decreasing densities are responsible for a large share of urban land conversions. The increasing land take per person may even result in urban expansion in regions where population is declining. You will study the drivers of urban density on a global scale. A global assessment of the factors that steer efficient land use can build upon JRC’s GHSL data and support global assessments of urban growth as simulated by JRC’s CRISP model.
How does the demographic transition in Europe affect urban development? The impacts of the ongoing demographic transition in Europe are uncertain as this process has started relatively recently. Literature suggests urban decline is not the mirror image of growth because of the durability of housing. It is thus interesting to analyse how population decline in Europe is developing and how this affects urban development patterns. Does it lead to building vacancies and a loss in urban area, or to a shift in housing needs? By studying this in regions that already experience population decline, you may be able to help prepare the regions where this decline is imminent.
How can governments speed up urban development? Many European regions face housing shortages, but do not seem to be able to increase the speed of housing development. Even when building permits are granted, development seems slow. These so-called stalled sites have received attention in academic literature, but their relevance has also been criticized by practitioners. By comparing the issuance of building permits and actual building activity from cadastral sources we want to better understand the factors that inhibit faster housing development. This research builds upon data collected for the Dutch Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) and will be caried out in cooperation with another Dutch research institute.

Research will be carried out at the Department of Spatial Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The second and third year, you will be based at the JRC office in Ispra, Italy. The first and fourth year, you will work in Amsterdam at VU’s Spatial Information Laboratory (SPINlab), the university’s centre for research and education in Geo-Information Science.

Your tasks

conducting research (0.9 fte) and supporting teaching in spatial data analysis (0.1 fte);
initiate and perform research in cooperation with your supervisors at VU and JRC;
write high quality research papers;
present research-in-progress at e.g. workshops/conferences;
contribute to spatial analysis and GIS-related courses of the department;
follow a 30EC training programme to prepare for your research work.

Your profile

the candidate holds a master degree in Urban economics or Urban Geography with proven quantitative research skills;
proven experience with quantitative spatial analysis tools such as QGIS and extensive coding experience in preferably R or Python;
strong quantitative methodological skills in handling detailed spatial data, including various econometric techniques and machine learning approaches;
a thorough understanding of empirical, explanatory research;
a strong interest in supporting spatial planning practice;
ability to establish own role within the project objectives as independent and creative scholar;
demonstrable flexibility to work in a dynamic, international context;
proficiency in written and spoken English with strong academic writing skills;
ability to read and communicate in Dutch is desired;
candidates should, prior to the start of the employment contract with the JRC have the nationality of a Member State of the EU or a country associated to the EU Research Framework Programme in force or being resident in an EU Member State since at least five years.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organization. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

a salary of minimum € 3.059,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.881,00 (PhD) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile PhD candidate. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
The initial employment contract will affect a period of 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the candidate will be employed by the JRC for a maximum of two years. Upon successful completion of this period, the candidate returns as VU employee to finalise the Phd dissertation. Each new contract is conditional on the availability of resources.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
contribution to commuting expenses
a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

During their stay at the JRC, the PhD candidate will be employed by the JRC as a Grantholder Category 20 pursuant to the Grantholder Rules of 30.10.2012 or any future rules that will replace the GH Rules. The national law of the JRC site where the Grantholder will be based shall apply to their contract of employment with the JRC. The PhD candidate will spend up to 24 months at the JRC.

While employed at the JRC, the salary and benefits are those of a JRC Grantholder Category 20, following the Grantholder rules. The annual gross salary will be around 45.000 euro and is subject to national income tax.

About us

School of Business and Economics
We at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at VU Amsterdam bring together socially relevant teaching and research in the areas of business administration and economics. We focus on real-life issues that have a huge impact on society, economics and ecology: from robotics to big data, and from job market participation to change management.

Collaboration and cooperation, transparency and social responsibility are four keywords that embody our approach. Students, researchers and staff at SBE share real-world knowledge in order to devise solutions together to global economic and social challenges. In order to make a positive impact on the world, society and the lives of others.

Are you interested in joining SBE? You will work in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment with motivated colleagues dedicated to helping society make informed choices. SBE employs roughly 600 staff, with 7,250 students enrolled in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and 1,700 executive students.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae including your publications and a personal motivation letter indicating your specific interest and ideas for this research topic (+/- 1 page) until January 30, 2026. We start screening candidates from the application deadline onwards and the search will continue until sufficient high-quality candidates are shortlisted.

The selection will be carried in two steps: a shortlist of 2 to 5 candidates will be elaborated by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam based on eligibility and analysis of the CV, motivation letter and possibly a first interview. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Joint Research Centre.

To be employed by the JRC, the selected candidate will have no more than 6 months from the request for confirmation of interest in the position, to produce proof of enrolment in the doctoral study program.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Dr. Eric Koomen
Position: Associate professor and project leader;
E-mail: [email protected]

Personal website: https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/eric-koomen