About your role
As a PhD candidate, you will build upon earlier work on obesogenic environment both conceptually and technically. The current framework focuses purely on the built environment, but can be expanded to include other environments through the vulnerability framework. While the main application of the index is the Netherlands, it is foreseen to also scale up the index to the European level.
Your main tasks include:
- Developing a conceptual framework for obesogenic environment vulnerability through a structured scoping review.
- Identifying and classifying components of vulnerability, including exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.
- Mapping determinants across micro-, meso-, and macro-levels.
- Exploring composite indicator methodologies, in collaboration with field experts.
- Contributing to broader research on environmental determinants of health and vulnerability mapping.
- Publishing results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Writing and defending your PhD thesis at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
About youYou are an analytically strong and conceptually curious researcher who enjoys working across disciplines. You bring:
- A completed MSc degree in environmental science, sustainability science, public health, geography, economics, or a related field.
- Strong modelling and programming skills, preferably in R (experience with Python or similar languages is a plus).
- Knowledge of statistical methods such as dimension reduction and regression techniques.
- Interest in composite indicator development (experience with COIN/COINr is an advantage).
- A clear motivation to work on environmental health, vulnerability assessment, or sustainability research.
- Excellent communication skills and a strong command of English.
- The ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Since the project is expected to start around May/June, candidates who are already based in Europe or able to start on short notice are preferred. However, we welcome all international applicants. If you are excited by the idea of shaping a new conceptual field and developing a national-level vulnerability index with real policy relevance, we look forward to your application.
Our offer- A flying start to your career in scientific research.
- Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
- Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
- You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
- A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
- Classification in salary scale OIO: € 3.108 to € 3.939 gross for full-time employment (depending on education and experience). In addition to a good basic salary, we offer 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Calculate your net salary here. As of 1 July 2026, the salary will be increased by 3.5% in accordance with the collective labor agreement (CAO UMC).
- Holiday hours: 190.4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
- Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
- For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
- Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.
Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
