We are looking for candidates with one of the following profiles:

(a) Students who are in their second year of the research master and expect to graduate before September 2026. Those students would enter the position directly per September 2026 on a three-year contract with 20% teaching.

(b) Students who are in their first year of the research master and expect to graduate before September 2027. Ideally, we then tailor both the coursework and the thesis to the project to be optimally prepared for the PhD position.

Your tasks

• perform high-quality research at the intersection of behavioral, environmental and/or development economics
• assist in teaching activities
• be an active member of the Department of Spatial Economics

An active, international and open research environment with a high international reputation in environmental, regional, urban and transportation economics. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. 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.
• a position for at least 1 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. After a positive evaluation your contract will be extended with 2 years.

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
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• One page letter explaining your motivation for pursuing your PhD research in the advertised position
• Academic diplomas (in the original language and with a certified translation in English)
• Academic transcripts (lists of grades)
• One letter of recommendation (ideally by a professor teaching in the research master program)
• Academic paper (if available, e.g. bachelor thesis, master thesis or article)
• English language skills assessment (if available, e.g. IELTS/TOEFL test results)
• GMAT/GRE test results (if available)

The supervisor of position, associate professor dr. Khadjavi, is available for questions via email (m.khadjavipour@vu.nl).

We review the applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.