PHD Position Youth Inclusion in Decision-making for Climate-responsive Cities

ID: 3481

Type: Full-time

Category: Others

Company Name: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Location: Groningen - Groningen - Netherlands

Salary: 3058 - 3881 EUR MONTH

Education Level: intern

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Job Description

Functieomschrijving

PhD

PhD position Youth Inclusion in Decision-Making for Climate-Responsive Cities

This PhD project investigates how Generative AI can be ethically and effectively integrated into participatory urban design processes with an intersectional approach towards the youth. The project introduces and empirically develops an innovative approach termed "Vibe-Designing," a co-design methodology in which AI tools function as mediators that support interactive, visually rich dialogue between young marginalized participants, planners, and policymakers.

https://werkenbij.rug.nl/vacature/phd-position-youth-inclusion-in-decision-making-for-climate-responsive-cities-1891/?langlang=en

What are you going to do?

Your work will culminate in a PhD thesis comprising four first-authored journal articles meeting international publication standards, integrated with an introduction and discussion/conclusion chapter.

You will:

Conduct a systematic literature review on AI in participatory planning and design
Carry out qualitative and ethnographic fieldwork within urban planning and public participation settings
Engage with policymakers, practitioners, AI developers, and community stakeholders
Analyze cultural, institutional, and ethical dimensions of AI-mediated participation
Design and facilitate co-design workshops where youth engage directly with GenAI tools
Disseminate findings through academic publications, conference presentations, and policy-oriented outputs
Be expected to contribute to teaching for about 15% of your time.

The project adopts a multi-method approach including interviews, participant observation, focus groups, and visual-based methods.

The participation of youth and marginalized groups in urban decision-making remains limited, despite growing recognition of its importance for inclusive and climate-responsive cities. At the same time, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly entering urban planning and design practices, offering new possibilities for visualisation, co-creation, and interactive engagement. Yet the cultural, professional, and institutional implications of using GenAI in participatory design with young people from vulnerable communities remain underexplored.

The research will examine:

How GenAI reshapes participatory practices and power relations in urban planning and design
How cultural, institutional, and governance contexts influence the adoption of AI-mediated co-design
How youth perceive, use, and critically engage with AI tools in shaping climate-responsive urban futures

The project combines theoretical inquiry with empirical fieldwork and practice-based experimentation.

Faculty of Spatial Sciences

Apply no later than: 30 April 2026 23:59 Dutch local time

€3.059 - €3.881

Who are you?

We are looking for a highly motivated and intellectually curious candidate with:

A Research Master's or Master's degree (or equivalent) in urban planning, urban design, human geography, urban studies, anthropology, science and technology studies, or a related field
Demonstrated proficiency in qualitative research methodology/methods (e.g., ethnography, interviews, focus groups, visual-based methods)
Demonstrated intrinsic motivation for the research topic
Demonstrated strong interpersonal communication skills and cultural sensitivity
Excellent command of English, both written and spoken
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team

Experience or affinity with one or more of the following is considered an advantage:

Participatory or co-design processes involving youth and/or other underrepresented groups
Digital tools, visual methods, or other ICT-mediated public engagement formats
Critical AI Ethics or Technology & Society debates

Programming or advanced technical AI development skills are not required , but openness to working with Generative AI tools in a research context is essential.

What can you expect from us?

In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 3.059 up to a maximum of € 3.881 (promovendus) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
The full-time appointment is temporary for a period of four years, under the condition of a positive assessment at the end of the first year.

Where will you be working?

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FRW) is an interdisciplinary faculty that makes a significant impact on societal issues such as climate, broad prosperity, population decline, healthy ageing, and sustainable energy. With approximately 100 staff and over 100 PhD students, we engage daily in up-to-date and relevant teaching and research in the fields of planning, demography, and geography. Through our research programme TRACE (Transformations, Communities, and Environments), we are committed to internationally oriented, interdisciplinary research. With two Bachelor's and seven Master's programmes, the Faculty offers broad educational opportunities to about 1,100 students from around the world. The Faculty of Spatial Sciences plays a crucial role in understanding and shaping the living environment of the future. We work for and with society. Our motto is: we are making places better together . If you would like to learn more, visit rug.nl/frw .

Application procedure

Step 1: Your application

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.

Step 2: Selection

The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.

Step 3: First interview

We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.

Step 4: Second interview and possible assessment or guest lecture

We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.

Step 5: Terms of employment meeting

After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!

Interested?

Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.

Please add the following documents to your application:

A motivation letter (max. 2 pages)

A Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)

A written sample (e.g., Master's thesis chapter or published paper)

Opleidingsniveau: WO
Carrièreniveau: Ervaren
Uren: 33 - 40 uur per week

Company Information

Company Name: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Company Website: https://www.rug.nl/

The Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, officially the University of Groningen (UG), is a public research university located in Groningen, the Netherlands. Founded in 1614, it is one of the oldest universities in the country and a key institution for research, education, and knowledge transfer. The university's mission is to contribute to science and society by advancing knowledge through high-quality research and by training generations of professionals who can apply that knowledge to real-world challenges. The UG operates across multiple faculties and institutes, spanning the natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medicine, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. While the core educational and scholarly activity covers a broad spectrum, the university places particular emphasis on technological and computational disciplines and maintains a robust ecosystem for technology-oriented research and innovation. A central hub for science and engineering is the Zernike Campus, a campus complex in Groningen that houses many of the university’s science faculties, graduate schools, and research laboratories. The Zernike Campus provides modern facilities designed to support both fundamental research and applied development, including laboratories for experimental physics, chemistry, material science, and biology, as well as computational infrastructure for data-intensive research and high-performance computing. The University of Groningen is home to the Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, a premier research center that brings together mathematicians, computer scientists, and AI researchers to pursue both theoretical and applied work. The Bernoulli Institute serves as a focal point for cross-disciplinary research, enabling collaborations that span algorithm design, machine learning, statistical modelling, computational geometry, symbolic reasoning, and AI applications. Through such interdisciplinary hubs, the university fosters innovation at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and information technology to address complex problems in science and society. In practice, the UG’s technology-relevant activities unfold in several threads: education and training, research, and knowledge transfer. On the education side, the university offers a broad portfolio of degree programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels across sciences and engineering, many of which are delivered in English to attract international students and researchers. Degree programs span mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, data science, engineering, environmental and sustainable technologies, bioinformatics, neuroscience, and related fields. The university’s curricula are designed to equip graduates with a strong foundation in scientific principles, practical problem-solving skills, and exposure to contemporary tech trends such as AI, machine learning, data analytics, simulation, and energy materials. Across its programs, UG emphasizes critical thinking, experimental training, and hands-on experiences through laboratory work, project-based learning, internships, and industry collaborations. In recent years, the University of Groningen has significantly expanded its capacity for research that translates into real-world technology and innovation. The institution emphasizes knowledge transfer through partnerships with business and public institutions, licensing and patenting of university-developed technologies, and the creation of spin-off companies that can bring research outcomes to market. While the details of individual partnerships are continually evolving, the broad pattern is clear: research teams collaborate with industry to solve practical challenges, from software engineering and data science to advanced materials, health technology, and sustainable energy systems. The university actively participates in international research networks and collaborates with universities, research institutes, and industry partners around the world. This global footprint supports joint projects, exchange programs, and shared access to facilities, enabling the university to attract leading researchers and provide students with exposure to diverse engineering and technological cultures. The University of Groningen places a high priority on open science and data governance, ensuring that research outputs, software, and data produced within the institution are accessible to the wider community where appropriate, while maintaining rigorous standards for ethics and privacy. In computational and data-driven domains, UG researchers contribute to advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer vision, cryptography, and cybersecurity, alongside theoretical work in mathematics and algorithmic design. The Bernoulli Institute, in particular, fosters collaborations across disciplines to tackle foundational questions in mathematics and computer science while supporting practical applications such as data-intensive modelling, robust algorithms, and AI-driven analytics. The university’s research ecosystem includes strong computational infrastructure, with high-performance computing resources, data centres, and experimental facilities that enable cutting-edge work in genetics, physics, and materials science. Students at UG benefit from this ecosystem through opportunities to engage in research projects, internships, and co-created industry-led programs that provide real-world experience and career-readiness. The University of Groningen’s technology-related activities are anchored in its mission to create knowledge for society. The institution seeks to translate research excellence into societal impact by collaborating with industry, startups, non-profit organizations, and government bodies. Through such partnerships, UG contributes to the development of new software tools, algorithms, and technologies that address societal challenges such as health care, climate change, sustainability, and digital security. In addition to formal degree programs and research projects, the university hosts innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives to support students and researchers who want to translate ideas into practical products or services. These efforts often include mentorship, seed funding, business development training, and access to a network of potential partners, customers, and investors. Overall, the University of Groningen stands as a historic yet forward-looking institution where education and research intersect with technology and innovation. It champions rigorous scientific inquiry, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, and seeks to empower students, researchers, and collaborators to drive technological progress that benefits society at large.

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