Postgraduate student supervision

Prospective PhD students

I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students in my areas of interest. I particularly welcome students interested in carrying out their PhD project in Latin America (especially Colombia) and Europe. 

Useful information on Postgraduate research degrees at Utrecht University can be found here. 

PhD students

Ongoing supervisions

• Gammelgaard, J., Communities’ role in transformation towards postgrowth agrifood systems. Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern (Second supervisor, with Christoph Oberlack).

• Jansen, E. Transformative power of social innovation in just climate transitions. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (Second promotor, with Flor Avelino and Kristina Bogner).

• Frank, L. Agricultural policy and the (de-) stabilisation of socio-technical regimes. Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Freiburg University (Second supervisor, with Heiner Schanz).

• Van Oers, L. Unlearning capitalism in agri-food sustainability transitions. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor/Promotor, with Ellen Moors and Hens Runhaar).

• Smessaert, J. Democratic praxis in grassroots agriculture movements: a vehicle for social-ecological transformation? Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor/Promotor, with Hens Runhaar).

• De Sa Pavarini Raj, G. Seeking power: how do grassroots initiatives shape transformations to sustainability? Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor/Promotor, with Hens Runhaar).

• Spanier, J. From the urban to the rural: agricultural grassroots initiatives and the making of postcapitalist futures. PhD student: Julia Spanier. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor/Promotor, with Ellen Moors and Marion Ernwein).

Past supervisions

• Guerrero Lara, L. Nurturing networks – a social movement lens on community–supported agriculture. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor/Promotor, with Peter Driessen).

• Diego Molina, 2020. Planting the modern city, the role of plants in the modernisation of Bogotá (1880-1920). Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (with Hilary Geoghegan).

• Jo Hamilton, 2020. Emotional Methodologies for Climate Change Action: towards an understanding of emotion in NGO-public engagements. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (with Hilary Geoghegan).

• Angie Elwin, 2019. Assessing social-ecological resilience in mangrove-shrimp farming communities in Thailand. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (with Johanna Clark, Liz Robinson, and Emily Boyd).

• Emily Nicolosi, 2019. Geographies of Grassroots Sustainability: Mapping the Places and Spaces of Transition. Department of Geography, University of Utah (with Richard Medina, Adrienne Cachelin, Andrew Linke, Neng Wan).

• Fanen Terdoo, 2018. Vulnerability of Rice Crop Value-Chain to the Combined Pressure of Markets and Climate Change in North-Central Nigeria. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (First supervisor, with Geoff Griffiths).

• Dennis Mailu. 2016. A critical assessment of governance of water: A case study of Kibera informal settlement Nairobi, Kenya. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (with Emily Boyd). 

Master students 

Past supervisions

• Birkeland, S., 2022. Anticapitalist grassroots initiatives’ uses of Cultural Politics to engage with Past and Future visions. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• de Souza, C., 2022. The role of the state in sustainability transitions: the case of the agroecological transition in Brazil. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Fiore, F., 2022. Evolving roles of grassroots initiatives for sustainability in Food Policy Councils: the cases of Lucca (Italy) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Talen, A., 2021. The Caring Organisation: A new way to integrate sustainability. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Guterrez Ribner, B. 2021. Exploring the Relationship between Modes of Governance and Collective Empowerment of Grassroots Innovations in Agro-Food Sustainability Transitions. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Gütschow, M., 2020. Farmers’ Action Space and Barriers to the Implementation of Climate Change Mitigation Practices in Agriculture: The Case of Saxon Arable Farming. Leipzig University (Second supervisor).

• Van Tilburg, N., 2020. What leads to success or failure in food surplus redistribution initiatives? Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Osuña-Garrido, F., 2020. Policy incoherence and development imaginaries in Colombian rural development. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Campese, C., 2019. Comparative analysis of social and ecological aspects of the farms joining the local organization Paniere Flegreo. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (Second supervisor).

• Barnhoorn, E., 2019. Measuring the impacts of post-capitalist civic grassroots experimentation. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Moore, D., 2019. In search of alternatives to development and a global counterhegemonic discourse. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Wrzesnewskyj-Cottrell, O. 2018., Governance for Sustainable Development in the Post-Peace Agreement Era in Colombia - A Comparative Study of Colombian diaspora in France and the Netherlands. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Heine, L., 2018. Blooming communities. A case study exploring community gardening practices and social inclusion in Oxford, UK. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University (First supervisor).

• Vidal Rodriguez, M., 2017. Mitigating methane emissions from the livestock sector: Policy analysis for the Mercosur countries. School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading (First supervisor).

• Agyapong, C., 2015. The role of the school curriculum in promoting climate change literacy: A survey of selected secondary schools in Ghana and England. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (First supervisor, with Sally Lloyd-Evans). 

• Gomez, S., 2014. Invasiveness Assessment of L.leucocephala in Quindío, Colombia. School of Agriculture Policy and Development,  University of Reading (First supervisor).

• Demirbelek, B., 2013. Urban Adaptation to climate change: case study Istanbul. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (First supervisor).

• Kindlund, J., 2012. Water treatment after the Camelford spill and its consequences in the security and environmental policies in the UK water companies. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading (Co-supervisor).

• Henry, D., 2011. Knowledge and attitudes relative to the practice of PPE use among coffee farmers of west rural St. Andrew during handling and application of toxic pesticides. University of the West Indies at Mona (First supervisor).

• Rahn, E., 2010. Environmental and human health impact indicators to assess pesticide use. A comparison of different indicators for the case of potato production in La Hoya, Colombia. Department of Geography, University of Zurich (First supervisor, with Claudia Binder).

• Von Aesch, I., 2009. Differences between Producer Prices in the Potato Market: An Economical Assessment in Tunja, Colombia. University of Basel (First supervisor, with Claudia Binder).

• Oehler, J., 2008. The contribution of social capital to the sustainability in less developed countries. An assessment in the Department of Boyaca, Colombia. Department of Geography, University of Zurich (Co-supervisor, with Claudia Binder).