"Postdoc position ‘Public discourse and citizen engagement on hydrogen systems’"

Job Description

In recent years, hydrogen technologies have regained high levels of political and societal attention. Hydrogen is promoted as a versatile energy carrier expected to complement electrification efforts in enabling a profound transformation of energy systems and industry sectors, contributing to mitigating climate change. In the Netherlands, policy, industry and academia are working in the national Groenvermogen programme towards creating a sustainable hydrogen system. Yet for whether and how such a transition will unfold, citizens’ perspectives and public debate are essential as well!

At the University of Twente, we are looking for a postdoc candidate who will study public discourse on hydrogen-based systems with a focus on the Netherlands and conduct engagement activities with citizens. Which topics, narratives, frames, controversies, expectations, imaginaries and concerns are being debated, and how do they develop over time? How do citizen perspectives align or differ from industry and policy visions? What may be gaps and missing voices in the societal debate? You will furthermore design and organize public engagement activities, including, for instance, qualitative scenarios and focus groups. The position is embedded in the HySuccess project that is part of the national research and innovation programme Groenvermogen. In addition, you will contribute to a related project that studies hydrogen discourse in the Global South.

Requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic postdoc candidate to join our Knowledge, Transformation & Society (KiTeS) research group. Our new colleague has the following profile:

• you hold (or are close to completing) a PhD in Science and Technology Studies, Science Communication, Media Studies, Sustainability Transitions, or a related field, preferably an energy-related topic;
• experience in qualitative research methods, such as discourse or media analysis, focus groups or interviews;
• excellent writing skills and a track-record of peer-reviewed academic publications and conference presentations;
• you are comfortable, and ideally have experience, with engaging citizens;
• You are proficient in Dutch and English;
• you are an excellent team-player and excited about working in an interdisciplinary team;
• you are able to manage your time and research activities efficiently and independently;
• You are highly motivated to contribute to academic and societal challenges;
• Experience in teaching is an asset.

Conditions of Employment

We offer a full-time research position for 27 months on a highly relevant topic, in a dynamic and international environment. The University of Twente (UT) offers excellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment, dedicated employees’ and PhD training and a green and lively campus with lots of sports facilities and an international scientific community!

We follow the terms of employment by the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO). It also includes:

• Gross monthly salary between € 3.546 and € 5.057 for the PostDoc position;
• Excellent benefits, including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment;
• A green campus with free access to sports facilities and an international scientific community;
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• A full status as an employee at the UT, including pension, health care benefits and good secondary conditions, are part of our collective labour agreement CAO-NU for Dutch universities.

Department

You will join the Knowledge, Transformation & Society (KITES) section within the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences. KiTeS is an interdisciplinary research group with a strong base in science and technology studies. Furthermore, you will collaborate with colleagues from Communication Science (CS) and Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety (PCRS).

KiTeS is dedicated to analysing and improving the contribution of Knowledge to Transformations in Society to address intersecting societal and environmental challenges, including growing disparities and inequities, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Our group works across diverse disciplines and scholarly fields and draws on critical, historical, participatory, design-oriented, and arts-based methods and approaches. We work in different domains such as science and innovation policy, higher education, and environmental governance and we collaborate closely with policy makers, social movements and grassroots organisations, cultural institutions, scientists and engineers, and business and financial institutions. Guided by values of justice, pluralism, sustainability, and care, our work is aimed at creating spaces for collaboration, critical analysis, reflection, and learning.

Additional Information

Please apply here before September 30, 2025. The application should include: A motivation letter, A CV, summarizing your education, previous work experience, publications, and contact details of at least 2 referees, A list of all courses attended and grades acquired during your bachelor, master and PhD courses. For more information about this function, please contact dr. K.E. Konrad, email k.e.konrad@utwente.nl, phone: +31 53 489 3906.