PhD Position – Flows in the Construction Sector

About the role

The Faculty of Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel invites two PhD candidates to join the interdisciplinary project “Flows in the Construction Sector”. The research investigates how labour, materials and capital have shaped, and continue to shape, the construction landscape of Brussels as an urban‑environmental system.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute a doctoral research programme on the flows of people, materials and money within the Brussels construction sector.
• Collaborate with supervisors from at least two research groups covering construction history, financial geography, circular economy, urban metabolism and social history.
• Collect and analyse archival, quantitative and qualitative data, and develop interdisciplinary methodologies.
• Publish findings in peer‑reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to the broader project by engaging with interdisciplinary workshops and seminars.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., architectural engineering, history, geography, economics, urban studies).
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary research on urban‑environmental systems.
• Ability to formulate a clear research proposal aligned with one of the project’s trajectories.
• Motivation to develop new methodological expertise in dialogue with other disciplines.

Required skills

What we offer

• Doctoral grant covering tuition fees and a living allowance.
• Supervision by leading scholars from multiple research centres.
• Access to VUB’s libraries, archives and research facilities.
• Opportunities for international networking, publications and conference participation.