Researcher Acceptability of low energy demand scenarios (1.0 FTE)

The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences is a centre of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. The faculty studies issues relating to human behaviour, and the relationships between people and society as a whole. This includes the study of how people function under normal circumstances, but also of the problems encountered by individuals or groups, and how these can be resolved or prevented. The Department of Psychology is part of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, and offers Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in both Dutch and English to over 3000 students.

The Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen invites applications for a researcher position (9 months). The aim of the project is to investigate the acceptability of low energy demand scenarios, and to determine the conditions under which different low energy demand scenarios are acceptable and likely to be adopted by individuals, households and communities.

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, reductions in energy demand are needed. The project aims to identify how people evaluate low energy demand scenarios, which factors affect the likelihood that people accept low energy demand scenarios, and which factors affect the likelihood that reductions in energy demand are achieved. The research aims to identify under which conditions low energy demand scenarios will be acceptable, and which strategies and policies can promote acceptability of low energy demand scenarios.

You will work in an interdisciplinary team, including climate and energy modellers. You are able to develop low energy demand scenarios based on the input of and discussions with the climate and energy modellers, and develop and apply methods to evaluate these scenarios. You will publish the results in a final report, and present the results to the project partners.

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

• depending on qualifications and work experience, a salary of € 2,960 to a maximum of € 4,670 (salary scale 10) gross per month for a full-time position
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
• attractive secondary terms of employment
• the position is classified in accordance with the University Job Classification (UFO) system; the UFO profile is Researcher 4
• a temporary contract of 1.0 FTE for a period of 9 months

Intended starting date: as soon as possible.