Junior Researcher & PhD Candidate – Urban Housing & Livelihoods

Introduction

As a junior researcher based at Khulna University, Bangladesh, you will conduct extensive field-based research on housing and infrastructure policies and practices in the urban informal settlements of its climate-vulnerable South-Western delta region. Using a Living Lab approach, you will engage closely with local communities and collaborate with planning and service/infrastructure providing bodies, as well as policymakers, to co-create innovative solutions that improve the former’s living conditions and strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods. 

This PhD position is part of the NWO-funded project FLASH – Facilitating Livelihoods through Advancing Smart Habitats in peri-urban Bangladesh. FLASH envisions fostering inclusive growth and planned development in peri-urban areas of Bangladesh by promoting climate-resilient livelihoods. FLASH comprises seven work packages (WPs), coordinated by different consortium partners, with a total of six PhD positions and one postdoc (Figure 1).

While your primary base will be in Bangladesh, you will spend three 5-month periods (15 months in total) at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, as part of the PhD program, and engage with the core/international research team.

Job description

As part of your employment, you are expected to:

• Lead the development of your own PhD research, aligning it with the work package (WP3) objectives and overarching project themes.
• Collaborate closely with your supervisors at Khulna University and IHS,and liaise with researchers across the FLASH consortium.
• As a member of the core research team, contribute to the design and operation of a Living Lab and stimulate the co-creation of alternative housing solutions together with local stakeholders.
• Map and analyse settlement typologies in selected peri-urban areas, using field data, spatial analysis, and architectural documentation.
• Investigate the role of policy, governance, and spatial factors in shaping the (in)adequacies and vulnerabilities of informal settlements.
• Explore resident-led initiatives to improve housing and infrastructure adequacy, focusing on availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and adaptability (the 5As framework by IHS).
• Translate your research into tangible/applicable outputs, including design options and policy recommendations aimed at enhancing physical resilience and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
• Publish your research outcomes in scholarly journals as suggested by the supervisors and the consortia.
• Graduate with a PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

You will be responsible for designing and carrying out research activities over a four-year period. Your work will follow a phased structure, each year building upon the previous, with strong engagement in the field and close collaboration with stakeholders and academic partners.

Figure 1: FLASH conceptual framework

Job requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic, broad-minded, and dedicated researcher with a strong interest in housing, livelihoods, and climate resilience. You must have a relevant academic background (specified under qualifications and experience below) and be eager to contribute to meaningful research that bridges academic knowledge and practical application.

You must demonstrate a combination of scientific curiosity, a reflective mindset, and a strong sense of teamwork. You need to be comfortable working in interdisciplinary and international settings, and highly motivated and enthusiastic in conducting fieldwork in informal settlements under challenging conditions. You should also value ethical engagement, inclusiveness, and co-creation with local communities.

Your qualifications and experience:

• MSc degree in housing, architecture, urban studies, anthropology, human geography, or related discipline from a recognized university. You can check recognition via think site Education systems | Nuffic. 
• Interest in participatory and/or community-based research methods.
• Experience with or interest in working in informal settlements, ideally in Bangladesh.
• Fluency in Bangla (spoken and written).
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written); TOEFL/IELTS may be required if your MSc was not taught in English.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, for both academic and non-academic audiences.
• Enjoys working in a collaborative team environment across disciplines and cultures.
• Experience with software for data analytics is strongly preferred.
• Comfortable using digital platforms (e.g. Teams, Zoom, shared folders).

Additional checks for shortlisted candidates
For candidates invited to the interview stage, Admissions will request copies of both Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas. These will be verified against Dutch TBO (research-level) criteria.
Where applicable, candidates may also be asked to provide IELTS/TOEFL test results to confirm English proficiency.

Employment conditions and benefits

As a junior researcher at Khulna University, you will spend three 11-month periods there. Next to this, you will visit IHS in Rotterdam three times, each for 5 months, to further develop the PHD while collaborating with the international team members.

Please note that you will be employed by Khulna University (Bangladesh) for a period of 48 months. The position is full-time (40 hours per week, 5 days).

FLASH activities commence on 01 October 2025, and the official NWO launch in Bangladesh is planned for 10-11 November. We strongly prefer a full-time candidate who is available to start as soon as possible, but not after 01 January 2026.   

You will also get:

• A salary of approximately €800 gross per month (Bangladesh contract, subject to local tax rules).
• During the 5-month stays in Rotterdam, you will remain on the Bangladesh contract and receive an allowance of €2,500 gross per month.
• 15 days of annual paid leave plus approximately 50 public/festival holidays per year.
• Group accident and life insurance.
• Free access to emergency and primary medical care at the KU Medical Centre In Khulna.
• Domestic fieldwork allowances (per diem, accommodation, travel) covered by Khulna University.
• International travel (flights, visa, insurance, per diem) for Rotterdam stays covered from project/bench fees.

During the research visits to Rotterdam, IHS can provide support with travel and share information to help the candidate arrange temporary accommodation.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

FLASH envisions fostering inclusive growth and planned development in peri-urban areas of Bangladesh by promoting climate-resilient livelihoods. FLASH comprises seven work packages (WPs), coordinated by different consortium partners, with a total of six PhD positions and one postdoc.

Group

Khulna University (KU) is a leading public university in Bangladesh, known for its interdisciplinary approach to research, strong community engagement, and commitment to sustainable development. Located in the southwest of Bangladesh, KU’s academic interests are deeply embedded in the dynamic deltaic landscape where urbanisation, climate change, and socio-economic transformation converge.

At Khulna University, we aim to generate knowledge that addresses pressing societal challenges and empowers local communities. Through research, education, and collaboration with public, private, and international partners, KU contributes to inclusive and resilient development in Bangladesh and beyond.

The university is home to a wide range of disciplines, including urban and rural planning, architecture, environmental science, development studies, and social sciences. With over 8,000 students and a vibrant academic community, Khulna University fosters a culture of critical inquiry, innovation, and practical engagement. As part of this mission, researchers and students are encouraged to work directly with communities and policy stakeholders to co-create locally relevant solutions with global relevance.

Khulna University is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Education and a key partner in national and international research programmes addressing sustainable urban and regional futures.

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is a centre of urban expertise at Erasmus University Rotterdam. At IHS, we envision liveable, socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable cities. Our mission is to inspire and empower urban professionals and citizens to make cities work for all.

Looking at cities from different perspectives, we educate urban professionals from diverse backgrounds, provide consultancy services to national and local governments and engage in cutting-edge urban research. Bringing practical experience from real-life projects back to the classroom, we inspire collaboration and co-creation of urban knowledge. Together with our partners, we work at the forefront of urban development to improve the well-being of people living in cities across the globe. IHS has approximately 55 staff– while we are based in Rotterdam, we have a strong interdisciplinary and international outlook and approach.

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is a research, advisory, and education institute that operates under the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE). IHS is part of the EUR Holding BV.

Department

This vacancy concerns Work Package 3: Housing and Physical Infrastructure (Figure 1). The day-to-day supervision will be overseen by Prof Dr Sheikh Serajul Hakim (Khulna University) and Dr Maartje van Eerd (IHS) (co-promotors), under overall guidance by Prof Dr Lasse Gerrits (IHS) (promotor).

Additional information

For further information about the position, the content of the overall project and specific questions regarding WP 3, you are welcome to contact Prof Dr Sheikh Serajul Hakim, Khulna University (PI of WP3) at serajulhakim@arch.ku.ac.bd.

Applying

Your application should include:

• A cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for this position
• A detailed CV, including the names and contact details of two academic referees

Important note: If you have previously been denied a Schengen visa, you must explicitly state this in your application, as it may affect your eligibility for a Dutch researcher visa during the fellowship period in the Netherlands.

As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete an assignment before the final decision is made. In addition, selected candidates will have the opportunity to join the official project launch and initial field visits in Bangladesh in early November.

You can apply for this position up to and including the 29 September. Please, attach your cover letter and CV to your application in English.

We look forward to receiving your application.