PhD Position: Food Education and Young People’s Everyday Geographies of Food

Interested in researching how to co-design food education that aligns with the diversity of young people’s everyday food geographies? Join as a PhD researcher

We invite applications for a PhD position on the moralities, politics and geographies of food education programmes and food pedagogies for young people.

In recent years, a plethora of food education programmes and various other forms of food pedagogies aiming to educate youth about healthy and sustainable food have sprouted in The Netherlands and in other countries. While these are crucial to foster food literacy among future generations in the face of the climate crisis, food insecurity, and increasing corporate food regimes, they can also exclude youth with a migration and/or low socio-economic background and their everyday geographies of food, as research has concluded in British and American settings. Youths’ geographies of food entail their embodied engagements and experiential learning with food in the everyday cultural, socio-spatial contexts and relations in which they live, learn, play and identify with.

Bringing together geographies of food, geographies of youth and critical pedagogy literature, this research project aims to critically investigate to what extent different forms of food pedagogies incorporate, firstly, the cultural and socio-economic diversities of young people's geographies of food, and secondly, a recognition of the economic and political processes that shape geographies of food on multiple interconnected scales. The other key objective is to develop research-based interventions to food education programmes based on polyvocal food pedagogies that are characterised by the equitable presence of, and dialogue between, multiple voices that are rooted in diverse ways of knowing and experiencing the world. Integrating context-specific understandings of food knowledge and practices in food education is essential for inclusive food system transformations.

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct independent research under supervision in the Geography & Education and International Development Studies Sections. The research includes:

• conducting a discourse analysis of written educational material of selected food education programmes to analyse what moral, political, spatial and cultural knowledge is produced;
• using suitable qualitative methodologies to understand how the discourse is negotiated by educators in practice (in schools or other community settings);
• using creative methods (such as Photovoice) to research young people’s everyday geographies of food;
• using educational design research methodologies (co-design, test, evaluate) to investigate appropriate and effective implementation of interventions that are based on polyvocal food pedagogies and that integrate the diversity of youth’s everyday food geographies.

The geographical scope and the selection of case studies of food education programmes or other forms of food pedagogies will be determined in consultation with you, and besides societal relevance, will be based on your expertise, affinity, experience and networks and of the supervisory team.

You will be required to publish peer-reviewed articles as a first author in academic journals (in compliance with the Open Science policy of Utrecht University). You will also share research findings back with the schools/communities where research is carried out, at international conferences and to various stakeholders through publication outlets aimed at other/broader audiences.

You will be supervised by Dr Sara Brouwer, Dr Harrison Esam Awuh, Professor Tine Beneker and Professor Ajay Bailey.

We are looking for an enthusiastic colleague who meets the following requirements. The ideal candidate has:

• a Master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline such as Human Geography, Geography Education & Communication, International Development Studies and linked social science disciplines;
• knowledge of, experience with and/or a strong interest in geographies of youth, diversity, food education and/or critical pedagogy;
• skills relevant to discourse analysis, qualitative methodologies and educational design research or a realistic ability to acquire these skills;
• excellent research skills concerning data collection, analysis and interpretation and research ethics;
• an excellent command of the English language and strong (academic) writing skills;
• preferably a good command of Dutch or the ambition to learn Dutch;
• an ability to work both independently and in a team;
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

We offer:

• a position for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,770 and €3,539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

For more information, please contact Dr Sara Brouwer at s.f.brouwer@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please submit the following documentation via the ‘apply now’ button below:

• your curriculum vitae with detailed academic records and qualifications and the names and email addresses of two referees;
• a motivation letter (max. 1 page) in which you explain why you are interested in this project and how you intend to contribute to this project;
• a writing sample that you think best represents your current writing abilities (e.g. your Master's thesis or another writing sample).