"JADS: PostDoc In Social Network Modeling of Clean Energy Acceptance and Support in the Caribbean Population"

Job Description

Are you interested in sustainable energy transition and eager to work on academic research with practical implications? Do you want to model human interaction behavior and the willingness to adopt innovation? Are you eager to work with Social Network Analysis models (statistical and/or agent-based)? Do you want to be part of a larger lab of researchers?

You will be a postdoc within ILUSTRE (Innovation Lab for Utilities on Sustainable Technology and Renewable Energy) within JADS (https://www.jads.nl/research-labs-ilustre/), with a focus on the population of the Dutch Caribbean islands. The project takes an explicit social science approach and aims to use Machine Learning and Social Network Analysis methodology to 1. analyze the current and developing opinions of new clean energy technology among the Curaçao population and other stakeholders, and 2. develop ways to utilize this opinion structure to support and facilitate the energy transition in the Caribbean.

Your work will involve extracting topics (topic modeling within the context of the clean energy transition), opinions, and social networks over time from documents (e.g., newspaper articles) using machine learning (ML) methodologies. Then, you will use statistical social network models (SNA) to analyze the extracted dynamic social networks and the co-development of the opinions regarding the energy transition and willingness to adopt within the Curaçao society. Ideally, this will be followed by the development of agent-based models to study how these networks can be built upon to facilitate energy transition in the Caribbean.

While we are open to other approaches, we strongly prefer the use of ML and SNA for this project. The work will be both academically grounded and publishable, while also having clear practical implications for the Caribbean islands.

It will be possible to participate in teaching within JADS.

With over 110 (assistant, associate and full) professors, almost 300 PhD and EngD students, about 1500 Bachelor students and 1000 Master students, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (M&CS) is the largest department of the TU/e. By performing top-level fundamental and applied research, and maintaining strong ties with industry, M&CS aims to contribute to science and innovation in and beyond the region.

Requirements

Motivated researcher with a PhD in Computational Social Science, Sociology, Machine Learning, or a similar applicable profile. Proven expertise in statistical and/or agent-based network modeling is preferred.

Ability to conduct high-quality academic research, reflected in demonstrable outputs.

A team player who enjoys working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary lab.

Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English, good communication skills.

Conditions of Employment

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10 (min. € 4,241 max. € 5,538).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.

Additional Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact Dr. Claudia Zucca (c.zucca@jads.nl) or Prof. Roger Leenders (r.t.a.j.leenders@jads.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Ivo Uitdenbogaart, HR Advisor, i.uitdenbogaart@tue.nl.

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