PhD Identifying Collective Values Amongst Housing Collectives for Sustainability Transitions

Join TU Delft as a PhD researcher within the ECCO project to explore how housing collectives embody values such as solidarity, care, sustainability, and cooperation.This position is part of the NWO-funded ECCO (Empowering Citizen COllectives in societal transitions) project, a groundbreaking collaboration between five leading Dutch universities. ECCO investigates how citizen collectives—grassroots organizations formed by citizens working together on shared goals—can become powerful drivers of societal change in areas such as housing, work, income, and sustainability. The project examines how these collectives can partner effectively with governments to address pressing challenges, from climate change to social inequality. Within ECCO, 11 PhD researchers will form a cohort working collaboratively across disciplines and institutions. This particular position will be hosted at the Department of Management in the Built Environment (MBE), Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft. As PhD researcher, you will investigate how housing collectives identify societal shortcomings and embody alternative values such as solidarity, collectivity, sustainability, and care. Your research will focus on understanding participants’ motivations and values, and on how diverse groups can develop a unified identity that strengthens their voice in governance. You will employ methods including the Means-End Chains method, collaborative ethnography, and data analysis. Working closely with societal partners such as Cooplink, Ecodorpen, and the Knarrenhof Foundation, you will map collective values and design pathways for housing collectives to influence housing policy and sustainability transitions. This position is ideal for candidates motivated by housing justice, collective agency, and values-based approaches to systemic change. In addition to being part of the ECCO PhD cohort, you will be affiliated with the Co-Lab Research Group at TU Delft, where you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other PhD researchers working on related subjects in the Netherlands and internationally. Conduct research through qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, surveys, and workshops. Create a roadmap to enhance housing collectives’ performance and impact Collaborate with fellow PhD researchers within the ECCO consortium.Academic background in social sciences (e.g. sociology, anthropology), management sciences, organisational studies, or human geography, with experience or affinity for housing studies. Strong methodological skills in both qualitative and quantitative research, including:# Experience with qualitative analysis software (e.g., Proficiency in Excel, SPSS, and other statistical tools. # Full fluency in English; proficiency in Dutch is highly desirable. # This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on housing collectives and sustainability transitions, while being part of a vibrant international consortium.TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our corevaluesand we activelyengageto be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. Your application will receive fair consideration. The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings. Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally. Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? The HR unit,Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. ADual Career Programmeis available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. For more information about the application procedure, please contact Pauline Stastra, via e-mail:recruitment-bk@tudelft.This helps the matching process within the ECCO project. For all ECCO PhD positions, check thelanding page.Application procedure Please apply no later than 15 February 2026 (local Dutch time + 2 hrs) via the application button and upload the following documents:Proof of writing (e.g. a blog post, student paper, magazine article). Graduate transcript. The names of two references, with contact information (letters not required at this stage). Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check theGraduate Schools Admission Requirements. You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.