Postdoc: Climate Adaptation Pathways for Critical Infrastructure

Do you have a passion for climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure systems? Are you interested in working with leading infrastructure operators to develop innovative adaptation strategies? Then we are looking for you!

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will contribute to the TASICI project (Transformative Adaptation Strategies for Interdependent Critical Infrastructure), a NWO-funded multidisciplinary research programme that brings together researchers, infrastructure operators, and public stakeholders to develop climate adaptation strategies for interconnected infrastructure systems in the Netherlands. The project focuses on major infrastructure corridors, including the Greater Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and the Rhine–Alpine Corridor, and aims to support system-wide prioritisation, resource allocation, and governance for climate adaptation.

Within TASICI, you will work on research activities in Work Package 2, which focuses on the development of adaptation pathways for critical infrastructure systems facing increasing climate risks. You will work closely with infrastructure operators including Rijkswaterstaat, ProRail, Schiphol Airport, Port of Rotterdam and Vervoerregio Amsterdam to combine quantitative modelling, adaptation planning and stakeholder engagement into actionable climate resilience strategies.

Your duties

• you develop innovative frameworks for climate adaptation pathways for critical infrastructure systems
• you analyze climate risks, adaptation options and resilience strategies across interconnected infrastructure networks
• you build and maintain databases of adaptation measures and evaluate their effectiveness using quantitative methods
• you collaborate closely with infrastructure operators through workshops, interviews and co-creation activities
• you publish results in international scientific journals and present findings at conferences and stakeholder events
• you contribute to the supervision of MSc and PhD students and support ongoing research activities within the project

Your profile

• you have a PhD degree in civil engineering, environmental sciences, geography, operational research or a related discipline
• you have demonstrable experience with quantitative modelling, data analysis and programming, preferably in Python
• you have knowledge of climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience, decision making under (deep) uncertainty or cost benefit analysis
• you have excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch and English; fluency in Dutch is required because of the extensive collaboration with Dutch infrastructure operators and government stakeholders
• you have experience working in multidisciplinary research projects and are able to work independently as well as collaboratively

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

An exciting postdoc position in a socially-engaged organisation with a supportive project team and an active early-career scientist community. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world.

• a position for at least 0.8 FTE
• your employment contract will initially start with a 1 year contract with the possibility to extend with another 2 years
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

About us

Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)

IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high-quality research output across environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. A unique strength of its research is understanding sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Geography, Environmental Policy Analysis; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM has been part of the Faculty of Science at VU Amsterdam.

The department of Water and Climate Risk (WCR) studies hydrological and climate processes, and how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. A defining characteristic of the department is a multi-disciplinary approach that combines expertise from natural sciences with knowledge from the fields of economics, e-Science and geography. This approach has led to a unique research portfolio of water and climate risk projects, and the department is a global leading institute in flood and drought risk assessment, and risk management research.

Faculty of Science

Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.