"PhD on Investigating and fostering socio-technical transformation at the nexus of electricity, heat, and mobility"

Job Summary

This PhD position focuses on understanding and promoting socio-technical transformations in electricity, heat, and mobility systems to support sustainability. It involves studying interactions between these systems to address misalignments in transitions and contribute to the field of Sustainability Transitions.

Responsibilities

• Adopt a multi-system perspective to investigate misalignments and tensions in heat, electricity, and mobility transitions.
• Build on and contribute to theories such as multi-system interactions, sector coupling, and governance of local energy transitions.
• Conduct empirical research using a qualitative multiple case study approach on local energy transitions led by energy communities and/or municipalities.
• Gather data through methods like semi-structured interviews, surveys, focus groups, and participant observation.
• Engage with ongoing projects and collaborate with municipalities and energy communities.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A relevant Master’s degree or near completion in social sciences such as Innovation Sciences, Science and Technology Studies, Transition Studies, Political Science, Philosophy, Ethics, Sociology, or Anthropology.
• Practical experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Preferably, experience with transdisciplinary and/or action-oriented research approaches.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Strong organizational, communicative, and connective skills for collaboration with academic and societal groups.
• Excellent scientific writing, planning, and presentation skills.
• Strong command of English at C1 level; knowledge of Dutch is an advantage.

What the Employer Offers

• A full-time PhD position for 4 years, initially for one year with extension upon good performance.
• 15% of employment dedicated to teaching tasks.
• Salary range from €3,059 to €3,881 per month, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P.
• Benefits including a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave, a year-end bonus of 8.3%, and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs, technical infrastructure, on-campus children’s day care, sports facilities, commuting allowance, working from home allowance, and internet costs.
• For international candidates, a Staff Immigration Team and tax compensation scheme (30% facility).