PhD Position Systemic Risk in Climate-Sensitive Housing Markets (Agent-Based Modeling)

TL;DR

PhD Position (Agent-Based Modeling/Climate Risk): Developing agent-based housing market models to explore systemic physical climate risks with an accent on risk propagation, stranded assets, and climate gentrification. Focus on integrating behavioral data, simulating interactions between households and banks, and identifying policy levers to avert systemic failures.

Location: Must relocate to Delft, Netherlands

Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 gross per month

Company

hirify.global is a top international university combining science, engineering, and design to address global challenges in energy, climate, and digital society.

What you will do

• Develop agent-based housing market models (urban to regional scale) to explore price dynamics in climate-sensitive areas.
• Incorporate adaptive price expectations of households and climate-aware policies of financial institutions.
• Analyze interactions between households and banks under increasing physical climate risks.
• Synthesize socio-behavioral and economic mechanisms of risk transfer and hazard capture.
• Identify conditions leading to stranded assets and climate gentrification to suggest policy interventions.

Requirements

• MSc in Computational Science, Geography, Spatial Economics, Environmental Studies, or Engineering & Policy Analysis.
• Proficiency in Python, Julia, or similar programming languages and simulation methods.
• Experience with statistical data analysis.
• English: Fluent written and spoken proficiency required.
• Location: Must be able to relocate to the Netherlands.

Nice to have

• Previous experience with agent-based or spatial modeling.
• Ability to work with spatial data/GIS.
• Domain knowledge in coupled social-environmental systems or global environmental change.

Culture & Benefits

• 4-year fully funded position with two sequential contracts.
• Salary increases annually from the first to the fourth year.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Customizable compensation package and discounts on health insurance.
• Support for international employees via the "Coming to Delft Service," including relocation and dual career programs.

Hiring process

• Application deadline is June 22, 2026.
• First interviews commence from June 26, 2026.
• Knowledge security risk assessment conducted in the final stages.