PhD candidate in development studies and the politics of sustainability
Closing Date: 15 February 2011
EN
This research aims to investigate conceptual, ethical and political aspects of biofuel (agrofuel) ‘sustainability’. We propose to study different organizational models for production and use of biofuels, and their institutional and policy governance; value and resource trade-offs arising between economic, social and environmental sustainability dimensions; and their relation to societal controversies.
We focus on an early 2nd generation biofuel crop, Jatropha curcas L., and derive implications for newer 2nd generation biofuels. Jatropha’s tropical habitat raises issues of moral (in)justice and geopolitics associated with massive land-grab investments in poor countries by rich-country parties. We will thus explore the governance of ‘sustainable’ initiatives at multiple interconnected levels, from the local to the global. The project will compare two Jatropha frontrunner countries – Tanzania and India – and their links to policies and investments from the EU. Ethnographic fieldwork will focus on mapping evolving practices in different production-organizational models; networking; sustainability values; tradeoff experiences; and contestations related to, e.g., impacts on local livelihoods, food security/sovereignty and ecosystem diversity. Policy documents will be studied to understand how policies shape governance and practices. Extant studies about Jatropha’s carbon debt, financial viability, and ecosystem effects will complement these primary sources.
The project consists of three sub-projects. We are currently seeking applications for 1 PhD position on the politics of biofuel sustainability in India. As a PhD student you will be collaborating with two post-doctoral researchers (a social-environmental scientist focussing on biofuels in Tanzania and a philosopher investigating the ethical aspects of sustainability trade-offs). All researchers will be based in The Netherlands. The PhD project will include considerable fieldwork in India.
Responsibilities
Research as a PhD candidate
Experience Required
We welcome applications from candidates with a Masters degree and an excellent academic record in Science, Technology and Society studies, Development Studies, Cultural Anthropology, International Political Economy, Human Geography, International and Comparative History, International Relations, Institutional Economics, History of Technology, or other relevant MSc programmes. Previous publication record or experience with applying social theory to analyse globalization/development issues will be an added advantage.
Salary Benefits
* a challenging job in a dynamic and ambitious University;
* full-time employment as a PhD candidate for a period of 4 years;
* gross salary in the range of €28.850 - €36.450 per annum (on a full-time basis), this includes 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end of year allowance;
* a broad package of fringe benefits (including moving expenses and coverage of costs of publishing the dissertation).
As part of an equal opportunity scheme, women are encouraged to apply.
Application Procedure
Fill in the registration form on the university website. And upload your application with the following documents (all in English):
* A letter of interest and motivation;
* A detailed curriculum vitae.
Contact Details
Requests for detailed project description and other questions about the academic content of the project should be directed to dr. Saurabh Arora (s.arora@tue.nl).
EN
This research aims to investigate conceptual, ethical and political aspects of biofuel (agrofuel) ‘sustainability’. We propose to study different organizational models for production and use of biofuels, and their institutional and policy governance; value and resource trade-offs arising between economic, social and environmental sustainability dimensions; and their relation to societal controversies.
We focus on an early 2nd generation biofuel crop, Jatropha curcas L., and derive implications for newer 2nd generation biofuels. Jatropha’s tropical habitat raises issues of moral (in)justice and geopolitics associated with massive land-grab investments in poor countries by rich-country parties. We will thus explore the governance of ‘sustainable’ initiatives at multiple interconnected levels, from the local to the global. The project will compare two Jatropha frontrunner countries – Tanzania and India – and their links to policies and investments from the EU. Ethnographic fieldwork will focus on mapping evolving practices in different production-organizational models; networking; sustainability values; tradeoff experiences; and contestations related to, e.g., impacts on local livelihoods, food security/sovereignty and ecosystem diversity. Policy documents will be studied to understand how policies shape governance and practices. Extant studies about Jatropha’s carbon debt, financial viability, and ecosystem effects will complement these primary sources.
The project consists of three sub-projects. We are currently seeking applications for 1 PhD position on the politics of biofuel sustainability in India. As a PhD student you will be collaborating with two post-doctoral researchers (a social-environmental scientist focussing on biofuels in Tanzania and a philosopher investigating the ethical aspects of sustainability trade-offs). All researchers will be based in The Netherlands. The PhD project will include considerable fieldwork in India.
Responsibilities
Research as a PhD candidate
Experience Required
We welcome applications from candidates with a Masters degree and an excellent academic record in Science, Technology and Society studies, Development Studies, Cultural Anthropology, International Political Economy, Human Geography, International and Comparative History, International Relations, Institutional Economics, History of Technology, or other relevant MSc programmes. Previous publication record or experience with applying social theory to analyse globalization/development issues will be an added advantage.
Salary Benefits
* a challenging job in a dynamic and ambitious University;
* full-time employment as a PhD candidate for a period of 4 years;
* gross salary in the range of €28.850 - €36.450 per annum (on a full-time basis), this includes 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end of year allowance;
* a broad package of fringe benefits (including moving expenses and coverage of costs of publishing the dissertation).
As part of an equal opportunity scheme, women are encouraged to apply.
Application Procedure
Fill in the registration form on the university website. And upload your application with the following documents (all in English):
* A letter of interest and motivation;
* A detailed curriculum vitae.
Contact Details
Requests for detailed project description and other questions about the academic content of the project should be directed to dr. Saurabh Arora (s.arora@tue.nl).
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