About this role
1 - Working at the VUB For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for f reedom, equality and solidarity , and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves . With some 4,000 employees , we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels ; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again . Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA , an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves. 2 - Position description The Faculty Social Sciences & Solvay Business School , Department Communicatiewetenschappen , Research Group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant . More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate , contains: You will join the Horizon Europe project EUROASIS (EUROpean Adaptive, Systemic and Inclusive Solutions for heat resilience), a 4-year, 29-partner consortium funded under the EU Cities Mission, starting October 2026. EUROASIS strengthens the capacity of regional and local authorities to anticipate, manage and recover from extreme heat, testing system innovations (such as climate shelters, urban heat digital twins, nature-based solutions) across 11 European cities (Amsterdam, Zaragoza, Athens, Reggio Emilia) and 7 replicator regions (including Mechelen, Belgium). SMIT leads the project's Societal Engagement work packages , laying the foundations for effective community engagement and co-creation of solutions across the pilot and replicator cities. Your PhD will examine participation in this urban heat-resilience context, with the participation of vulnerable groups in society as a central theme. The exact focus will be shaped together with your supervisors. What you'll be doing in the project Year 1 – Building the foundations: reviewing how justice and equity frameworks are applied to heat-stress policy, and co-developing future scenarios for heat-resilient cities through co-creation workshops with stakeholders in each pilot city. Years 1–3 – Setting up inclusive engagement: designing the methodology for "Community Labs" and developing strategies to recruit and engage vulnerable and marginalised groups (elderly, youth, low-income residents) in each city, alongside participatory (digital) data-collection tools. Years 3–4 – Delivering and evaluating impact: supporting citizen data collection in the Community Labs, coordinating cross-city knowledge transfer, and conducting a final justice and equity impact assessment. Your specific tasks Conducting a literature review on participatory methodologies for technological or social innovation, and on justice and equity for vulnerable groups (specifically related to sustainable and liveable cities, and the challenge of heat resilience). Applying qualitative and quantitative research methods: interviews, focus groups, workshops, surveys. Setting up participatory processes involving various stakeholders (policy-makers, citizens, academics, etc.), for which you will determine the methodology. Possible forms of participation include citizen science, local citizen participation activities, living labs, etc. Developing communication and engagement strategies that make participation in scientific research as inclusive and democratic as possible. Formulating policy advice for inclusive, democratic decision-making on sustainable and liveable cities, with a particular focus on heat stress. Reporting and presenting findings in academic publications and at (inter)national conferences. Writing and publishing scientific journal articles. Completing a PhD dissertation based on the project's outcomes. For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 3 - Profile What do we expect from you? A master's degree with good academic results in a relevant field — communication studies, political science, or urban studies are especially welcome; sociology or (climate/environmental) psychology are also valuable backgrounds. A genuine interest in systemic innovations for heat resilience. No technical background required. Basic knowledge of participatory research methods (including citizen science), or a strong drive to develop this. Initial experience with participatory methods is an asset. Strong motivation to start and complete a PhD. Strong communication and writing skills in English; knowledge of Dutch is a plus. Ability to work proactively and independently. Willingness to travel for international meetings, fieldwork and conferences across the partner cities. You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months. As a (non-)EEA national , meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here . The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity. 4 - Offer Are you going to be our new colleague? You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship , for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 15/10/2026 . You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government. IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university. At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career. As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits : Extensive homeworking options , a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month; An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance , and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days; Cost-free hospitalisation insurance ; Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices; Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise , a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques ; Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps ; The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses; And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive. 5 - Interested? Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of? Then apply, at the latest on 15/09/2026 , via jobs.vub.be , and upload the following documents: your CV; your motivation letter; your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni). Our application process is as follows (subject to change): step 1: an initial selection based on your application file; step 2: a job interview. Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Carina Veeckman at [email protected] or on geen. Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be , and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues. Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu , and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.