PhD Exploring the Impact of Green Infrastructure on Health and Biodiversity

Are you passionate about the potential of landscape design to improve public health and biodiversity? Would you like to contribute to emerging methodological developments for the implementation of green infrastructure integrating human and ecological well-being? Then you could be the ideal PhD candidate to join our team!

Peri-urban landscapes – the transitional zones where city and countryside meet – present unique opportunities and challenges. These zones can become “ecotones” – transitional areas between ecological communities where humans and wildlife must cohabit. Green infrastructure (GI) in these areas has been recognized for its potential to enhance quality of life for both humans and wildlife, but designing it involves complex trade-offs. Green spaces promote physical activity, mental restoration, and reduce heat stress for nearby populations, while providing wildlife with attractive habitats for foraging and breeding, which can, in turn, also be attractive to predators. Conversely, wildlife is less likely to make proper use of space where human presence is important. Therefore, there is still much to learn about how different GI designs affect specific health and biodiversity outcomes. Our research seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by using Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) to simulate and evaluate the impact of various green infrastructure design scenarios in peri-urban areas.

This PhD project will explore the dynamic interactions between human and non-human agents and green infrastructure within peri-urban landscapes. This first requires the development of a comprehensive ABM framework able to capture these complex interactions, and, in a second phase, the application of this model to simulate the effects of different GI designs (e.g., parks, green corridors, urban forests) on outcomes such as physical activity, mental health, and species richness. This model should allow the exploration of the synergies and trade-offs between human well-being and ecological benefits offered by different site-specific design solutions. Working within a landscape architecture research group, you will both contribute to the development of new modeling tools and translate the resulting simulations into practical design insights and potential policy recommendations. In doing so, you’ll support landscape architects in designing spaces that optimize health and biodiversity outcomes, promoting the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

This research should explore questions such as: What are the specific interactions between human residents, wildlife, and green infrastructure that influence health and well-being outcomes in peri-urban areas? What is the impact of green infrastructure design on human and non-human health outcomes in peri-urban areas? How can an agent-based model be created to simulate the health and well-being impacts of green infrastructure in peri-urban areas on both human and non-humans agents?

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Developing the ABM framework to simulate health and biodiversity outcomes of green infrastructure designs in peri-urban areas.
• Testing different design scenarios and analyzing the effects of these designs on both human and non-human agents.
• Contributing to the formulation of design guidelines and policy recommendations to support landscape architects in integrating health and biodiversity goals into green infrastructure planning.
• Setting up and carrying out the above-mentioned research, resulting in, among other things, a dissertation containing at least 3 international scientific publications, which will be defended in public;
• Actively participating and contributing to the PhD community of the landscape architecture and spatial planning cluster.

Requirements:

You are

• An enthusiastic researcher who is creative, perseverant and intrinsically motivated to address societal challenges;
• Passionate about the intersection between green infrastructure, human health and wellbeing, social behavior, and biodiversity in landscape design.
• Able to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and communicate complex technical concepts to non-specialist audiences.

You have

• Demonstrable experience with Agent-Based Modelling (ABM), including experience with developing and applying ABMs, particularly in ecological, environmental, or urban contexts and the ability to translate real-world data into model inputs and interpret model outputs to evaluate social, health, and ecological dynamics.
• Proficiency in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for spatial data analysis and integration with modeling platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a keen interest in method and/or theory development
• Strong academic writing skills, with the ability to publish peer-reviewed articles and present research findings at conferences.

You also possess:

• A successfully completed (or about to be completed) MSc degree in Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Environmental Psychology, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Geography, Ecology, or a related field.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Landscape Architecture Chair Group, part of the cluster Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning. You will be supervised by dr. ir. Agnès Patuano, dr. Homero Penteado and prof. dr. Sanda Lenzholzer.

Salary Benefits:

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

38 hours per week

Droevendaalsesteeg