JUST ART. Creating Common Grounds for Climate Justice Through Artistic Research is a six-year project on climate justice and artistic research in the Caribbean and European parts of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. The project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and coordinated by the University of Groningen.

The project is currently offering 10 PhD positions at six universities in collaboration with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and four universities of applied sciences.

JUST ART PhD candidates will generate new knowledge and critically assess approaches that integrate scientific insights with artistic research to address climate justice. They will study and develop concrete cases to learn how art and artistic research can be embedded in ongoing and emerging work on climate justice.

The candidates will enhance expertise and skills to take artistic and art-based transformative action on climate justice and will contribute to theoretical frameworks, common methods, educational toolkits and knowledge sharing platforms in co-creation with project partners.

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Here is an overview of the 10 PhD positions. Detailed descriptions of the individual PhD projects and application links for each partner university can be found on the project website: https://justart.info/phd/.

PhD 1: Material Engagement with Everyday Textiles
- University of Utrecht
- Submission deadline: 13 March 2026
- Criteria: We are seeking two highly motivated PhD students who have a Master’s degree in (Technical) Art History, History of Knowledge, Science and Technology Studies, or another relevant discipline, and a demonstrable affinity with the project. We will also consider applicants with an alternative qualification (e.g., MA from an art school) if this is sufficiently supported by appropriate academic research experience and an artistic portfolio.
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs/2-phds-in-just-matter-situated-material-engagement-for-climate-justice

PhD 2: Material Engagement with Common Ceramics
- University of Utrecht
- Submission deadline: 13 March 2026
- Criteria: We are seeking two highly motivated PhD students who have a Master’s degree in (Technical) Art History, History of Knowledge, Science and Technology Studies, or another relevant discipline, and a demonstrable affinity with the project. We will also consider applicants with an alternative qualification (e.g., MA from an art school) if this is sufficiently supported by appropriate academic research experience and an artistic portfolio.
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs/2-phds-in-just-matter-situated-material-engagement-for-climate-justice

PhD 3: Art and Soil Ecologies
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Submission deadline: 15 March 2026
- Criteria: You must hold a relevant second-cycle degree (MA or equivalent) from an art school or university; Applicants with an active artistic research practice - and ideally, established engagement with climate justice and/or environmental questions more broadly  — are strongly encouraged to apply; You can work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and intercultural research environment, including fieldwork; You are enthusiastic about communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences; You have excellent writing and speaking skills in English and Dutch
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/phd-position-just-production-art-soil-ecologies-amsterdam-1254641

PhD 4: Art and Regenerative Entrepreneurship
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Submission deadline: 15 March 2026
- Criteria: You must hold a relevant second-cycle degree (MA or equivalent) from an art school or university; Applicants with an active artistic research practice - and ideally, established engagement with climate justice and/or environmental questions more broadly  — are strongly encouraged to apply; You can work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and intercultural research environment, including fieldwork; You are enthusiastic about communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences; You have excellent writing and speaking skills in English and Dutch
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://workingat.vu.nl/vacancies/phd-position-just-production-art-regenerative-entrepreneurship-amsterdam-1254143

PhD 5: Climate Justice and the Value of Water in Small Island States: A Creative Data Visualisation Perspective
- University of Aruba
- Submission deadline: 13 March 2026
- Criteria: Holds a Master’s degree in data/information science, environmental science, socio-ecological systems or a related field; Demonstrates excellent research skills; Demonstrates academic excellence and integrity; Demonstrates strong interest in small island states, water systems, and climate justice; Has affinity with data analysis, visualization, or creative research methods; Is motivated to work in an interdisciplinary, international research environment; Has excellent written and spoken English; Experience with participatory research, visualization, or art–science collaboration is an asset; Experience communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences.
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
 - Application link: https://careers.portal.ua.aw/vacaturebeschrijving/phd-candidate-just-transitions

PhD 6: Re-Pairing Wetlands: Artistic Research for Just Multi-Species Relations in the Northern Netherlands
- University of Groningen
- Submission deadline: 15 March 2026
- Criteria: You have an MA in a relevant field (from an art school or university); You have excellent research skills; You have excellent writing and speaking skills in English and preferably also in Dutch, as the project requires active engagement with societal partners; You can demonstrate an artistic practice, preferably through a degree at an art academy or conservatory (alternatively through exhibitions, prizes, publications, etc); You bring experience with participatory (art) projects and artistic research; Prior knowledge of multispecies climate justice frameworks is desirable; You can work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and intercultural research environment, including fieldwork; You are enthusiastic about communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences.
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://werkenbij.rug.nl/vacature/phd-just-transitions-re-pairing-wetlands-artistic-research-for-just-multi-species-relations-in-the-northern-netherlands-1703/?lang=en

PhD 7: ReStor(y)ing (Un)just Land-Water Relationships Through Art-activism
- University of Twente
- Submission deadline: 27 March 2026
- Criteria: You demonstrate excellent research skills through an outstanding Master’s thesis related to the PhD topic, can work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and intercultural research environment and are enthusiastic about communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences. Due to the collaborative nature of the project, your regular physical presence at UT in Enschede is expected, as well as availability to conduct periods of fieldwork in and outside the Netherlands (i.e. Aruba). Some prior knowledge of climate justice frameworks is desirable, as well as experience with participatory, transdisciplinary and/or art-based research methods is desirable.
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881  
- Application link: https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/2374/phd-position-just-futures-restorying-unjust-land-water-relationships-through-art-activism/

PhD 8: ReStor(y)ing Multispecies Futures Through Digital Media
- University of Twente
- Submission deadline: 27 March 2026
- Criteria: You demonstrate excellent research skills through an outstanding Master’s thesis related to the PhD topic, can work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and intercultural research environment and are enthusiastic about communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences. Due to the collaborative nature of the project, your regular physical presence at UT in Enschede is expected, as well as availability to conduct periods of fieldwork in and outside the Netherlands (i.e. Aruba). Some prior knowledge of climate justice frameworks is desirable, as well as experience with participatory, transdisciplinary and/or art-based research methods is desirable.
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/2374/phd-position-just-futures-restorying-unjust-land-water-relationships-through-art-activism/

PhD 9: Artistic Research, Curating and Climate Justice
- University of Amsterdam
- Submission deadline: 13 March 2026
- Criteria: A completed Master's or Research Masters degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Cultural Studies, Heritage Studies, Artistic Research or a related field; Excellent research skills demonstrated by a Master thesis; A strong collaborative attitude and willingness to engage in team-based research; Enthusiasm for communicating research to academic and non-academic audiences; Experience with (co)-curating on topics related to climate and ecology; Some prior knowledge of multispecies justice frameworks is desirable; Good command of English (Dutch is desirable); Good presentation skills (in writing and other formats).
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies/phd-position-in-just-practices-artistic-research-curating-and-climate-justice-netherlands-14801

PhD 10: Performing Multispecies Justice
- University of Amsterdam
- Submission deadline: 13 March 2026
- Criteria: You have completed a master’s degree or equivalent with a relevant specialisation within the social sciences or humanities, preferably anthropology and/or theatre and performance studies; Affinity with artistic and co-creative methodological approaches; The skills needed to finish a PhD thesis in four years, i.e., an independent and proactive work attitude, excellent planning and academic writing and research skills; Cultural sensitivity in conducting research that is respectful and ethically sound; Good command of English (Dutch and/or Papiamentu is desirable).
- Salary: €3.059 - €3.881
- Application link: https://werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies/phd-position-in-anthropology-just-art-performing-multispecies-justice-netherlands-14775