PhD candidate Risk analysis in the circular economy

How do regulators balance food safety, sustainability and innovation in circular food systems? Will you join our multidisciplinary project to investigate risk governance in the circular economy?

Job Description
The transition to a circular economy is reshaping food systems through innovation such as food waste valorisation, upcycled ingredients, and recycled food packaging materials. While these innovations promise sustainable benefits, they also introduce new regulatory challenges and uncertainties: How should food safety risks be assessed? How do different legal frameworks (dealing with, e.g. foods and chemicals) balance precaution and innovation? How do industry, regulators, and NOGs negotiate trade-offs in risk governance?

As a PhD candidate in this project, you will investigate how scientific uncertainty, regulatory frameworks, and policy trade-offs shape risk assessment in circular food systems. You will analyse regulatory decision-making, explore how different legal systems balance precaution and innovation, and investigate how various actors – including policymakers, industry, and civil society – navigate trade-offs between food safety, sustainability, health and economic feasibility. Through a combination of case studies, legal analysis and (qualitative) stakeholder research, you will contribute to a deeper understanding of how risk assessment and risk analysis can support the transition to a more sustainable and circular food economy.

This research will be conducted at the Food Claims Research Centre of Maastricht University (Campus Venlo), providing an interdisciplinary environment at the intersection of food law, regulatory and nutritional sciences.

Requirements
Candidates will be judged on the basis of the requirements outlined below. We are looking for a PhD-candidate with the following qualifications.

You have:

• Successfully completed a master’s degree in Science and Technology Studies (STS), regulatory science, law, food safety, sustainability studies, public policy, or a related field;
• A strong interest in risk governance, food system transitions, and regulatory frameworks;
• A solid understanding of research designs and relevant qualitative analyses, as demonstrated in education (and work) so far;
• A critical, analytical mindset and strong research skills;
• Excellent communication skills in English (fluent at C1 level), including scientific writing and presenting;
• You have the ambition to share your research (findings) outside of regular scholarly activities;
• The ability to work independently while collaborating in an interdisciplinary, international research team;
• Preferably a good command of Dutch (for foreign applicants: the intention to reach proficiency in Dutch within a short period of time).

What we offer
As a PhD candidate at Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, with worklocation Venlo. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from €2901,00 in the first year and €3707,00 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

Faculty of Science and Engineering
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

Department
The Food Claims Research Centre (FCRC) is an innovative, interdisciplinary research department dedicated to studying the generation, use and impact of scientific evidence in food-related policies and legislation. The conducted research contributes to improved uptake and implementation of innovative technologies by concurrently analysing procedures and processes of the full risk analysis cycle in EU food law. By combining insights from nutritional sciences, food sciences, law and regulatory sciences, public health and food policy, research questions are explored from an interdisciplinary perspective. We thereby aim to facilitate fair, safe, healthy and sustainable food choices for consumers in a transitioning food system.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Alie de Boer at a.deboer@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than April 6th 2025, for this position.

Please upload your CV, motivation letter (approximately 1 A4), and the contact information of 2 referees.

The first interviews will take place on April 17th 2025, the second interview round is organised on April 29th 2025.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.

38 hours per week

Nassaustraat 36