Post-doctoral researcher Acceptability of low carbon lifestyles (1.0 FTE)

The Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen invites applications for a temporal post-doctoral researcher position (2 years). The aim of the project is to investigate which factors affect the acceptability of low carbon lifestyles. The research is funded by the Stevin prize awarded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) to Linda Steg for her pioneering, innovative and socially impactful research (

https://www.nwo.nl/prof-dr-linda-steg

).

Environmental Psychology at the University of Groningen has a national and international reputation for excellence. Research within the Environmental Psychology group focuses on a wide range of topics, including understanding which factors influence sustainable behaviours (such as energy use, car use, food consumption); understanding how people cope with environmental and climate risks; understanding the effectiveness of strategies to promote sustainable behaviour; understanding the acceptability of environmental policies; and the effects of sustainable behaviour on wellbeing. The research contributes to theory development and to practice. The Environmental Psychology group collaborates with scholars from different disciplines within and outside the University of Groningen, as well as with governments, NGOs, businesses, and organisations.

The project
To effectively mitigate climate change, people have to adopt low carbon lifestyles, meaning that they have to engage in a wide range of low carbon behaviours. Hence, we need to understand how such broader low carbon lifestyle changes can be achieved. The project aims to identify how people conceive low carbon lifestyles, to what extent people are willing to accept and adopt low carbon lifestyles, and which factors affect the likelihood that low carbon lifestyle changes are achieved. Specifically, the project aims to understand how low carbon lifestyles may affect individual’s quality of life, and to what extent individual, social and contextual factors affect evaluations of low carbon lifestyles. Moreover, the research aims to identify under which conditions low carbon lifestyles will be more acceptable, and which strategies and policies can promote the adoption of low carbon lifestyles.

You will publish the results of your studies in international scientific journals as well as popular magazines and newsletters, and present your studies at international conferences and to private partners.

Organisation
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 34,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is an international place of knowledge.
The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences excels in teaching and research in the fields of human behaviour, thinking, learning, and how people live together. We work on societal issues and problems that people experience in daily life. Central to this is individual and societal resilience and how to increase this. To this end, we focus on the topics of migration, the environment and climate, health, upbringing and education, the protection of vulnerable minorities, and sustainable partnerships.

Our research and teaching has a strong foundation in the scientific disciplines of educational sciences, pedagogical sciences, psychology, sociology, and teacher education. The Faculty offers four Bachelor’s degree programmes and over 20 Master’s tracks, including the two-year Research Master’s in Behavioural and Social Sciences. The Faculty also hosts the university teacher education programme.
Over 4,500 students and over 800 staff members study and work at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences.

We are looking for an early-career scholar with a PhD in Environmental or Social Psychology and a strong research record. We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

• a PhD degree in a relevant field of Psychology, with a focus on Environmental Psychology
• a relevant publication record demonstrating your ability to publish international academic publications, preferably in top tier peer-reviewed journals
• experience with theory driven research with high societal impact
• a clear interest in collaborative interdisciplinary research
• the ability to communicate verbally and in written form in English and preferably Dutch (or willingness to learn Dutch)
• ability to work independently and manage joint research activities
• a team player with good communication skills.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• depending on qualifications and work experience, a maximum salary of € 3,877 (salary scale 10) gross per month for a full-time position. The position is classified in accordance with the University Job Classification (UFO) system; the UFO profile is Researcher 4
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
• attractive secondary terms of employment
• a temporary contract of 1.0 FTE for a period of two years.

Intended starting date: as soon as possible