All Things Urban

As one of the world’s leading training grounds for these engineers, TU Delft views its role in society as supplying technological solutions that take us significantly further along the road towards sustainability and a flourishing economy.

On October 1st, 2020, “RE-DWELL: Delivering affordable and sustainable housing in Europe”, a Marie Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) co-financed by the H2020 programme, has started its activities. For project ESR 12: Comparative analysis of policies for affordable and sustainable housing, we are looking for a PhD candidate. Research project Sustainability goals have been formulated worldwide, as well as in the EU and in EU Member States. At the same time, housing poverty, including energy (and) water poverty –the inability to pay the housing, energy (water) bills– has reached national and EU policy agendas. This state of the art of housing costs being unaffordable to some households in combination with the agreed transition towards sustainable (energy) housing puts extra pressure on the affordability of housing costs. On the one hand, not all households are able to afford their housing and energy costs. On the other hand, investments in making housing more sustainable (energy wise) puts questions forward on how to finance the transition, how to allocate these costs across housing tenures, consumers, which are the primary focus of this project, and investors and policy makers. In this project, first, the ESR will map and compare policies for affordable and sustainable housing across Europe, as well as theories/approaches to housing affordability & sustainability(A&S). Second, as starting point for comparison of sustainability measures, the ESR will present/measure consumer problems with paying their housing costs. The next step entails the measurement of the consequences for affordability of the transition towards sustainable (energy) housing for the consumer: what will be the impact of the strive for sustainability on the affordability of housing costs? These calculations will unravel the ways in which the affordability of housing costs and the sustainability investments may be in conflict with each other. If calculations require in-depth insights, the ESR will study the impacts of specific sustainability investments. In summary, this comparative project aims to show where and to what extent housing/sustainability subsidies or innovative finance instruments may impact in a positive way on the conflict between affordability and sustainability. This will allow to identify equality impacts. The planned secondments are intended to give further depth to the case studies.

- To conduct this individual research project, interlinked to the other ESRs projects, focusing on the: - Review of policies and instruments including those aiming for sustainable housing investment that impact the affordability of housing costs for consumers in different housing tenures; - Critical analysis of theories on affordability and sustainability of housing; - Design of the framework of analysis and the development of indicators of affordable and sustainable housing according to current comparative standards in social and housing policies; - Review of EU, national and local databases; - Measurement of affordability and understood consequences of investment in sustainability on the affordability of housing costs according to current standards, which implies a) to assess financial policies for affordability in different housing tenures (in selected EU countries) and b) to analyse and assess performance of housing subsides systems in selected EU countries. - To participate in the network-wide activities (workshops, summer schools, conferences). - To carry out the training required by the PhD programme of the host university. - As part of the individual research project, ESRs will carry out secondments, each of 2 to 3 months, in the partner organisations. ESRs are expected to have completed a doctoral thesis that can be defended at the host institution within or shortly after the project lifetime.

Specific requirements - Masters’ degree in Housing Studies, Economics/Finance, Economic Geography, Social Sciences, Policy sciences or equivalent; - Prior experience with (quantitative) research methods; - Prior experience with research on affordability and/or international comparative research; - Excellent knowledge of English (C1, C2), orally and in writing. Generic requirements The candidates must fulfil the eligibility and mobility requirements of the Marie Curie ITN programme: - Eligibility - To be eligible for recruitment within an ITN project, you therefore must – at the date of recruitment – be within the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of your research career and not have a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when you obtained the degree entitling you to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained, or in the country in which you are recruited), even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged. You may therefore be required to provide documentation proving your eligibility for recruitment. - Mobility - You are therefore required to undertake transnational mobility in order to be eligible for recruitment in an ITN project. As such, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (e.g. work, studies) in the country where you have been recruited "for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date". Holidays are not counted. Your employer is required to verify this fact, therefore you may be required to provide supporting documentation proving your place(s) of residence or work during the previous 3 years. Note that the mobility rule applies only to your first recruitment within the project, and not to other organisations to which you might be sent on secondment or at which you may subsequently also be recruited. Finally, the mobility rule is related to your residence or main activity and not to your nationality.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. At TU Delft in the Netherlands, salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. This means a salary as PhD of 2.395,- EURO gross per month in the first year, which will increase in annual steps to 2.920,- EURO gross per month in the third year (and to 3.061,- EURO gross per month in the 4th year). TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. According to the terms of the MCS programme the amount allocated to your contribution to the project of consists of: - Living Allowance 3528 euro per month - Mobility allowance 600 euro per month - Family allowance 250 euro per month (if applicable) Please bear in mind the fact that these allowances-amounts are used to pay your gross salary, employers compulsory deductions and benefits for the full 3 years of the MSC programme. At the end of the first three years of your contract any possible difference between the amount paid in salary/wage taxes/compulsory employers-employees social contributions and the amount to be paid according to the Work Programme will be equalized at the end of the 3 years Early Stage researcher ITN MSC-grant. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

This job is available for international candidates.