PhD Candidate: Resistance to Sustainable Innovations (1.0 FTE)

• Employment: 1.0 FTE
• Gross monthly salary: € 2,434 - € 3,111
• Nijmegen School of Management
• Required background: Research University Degree
• Application deadline: 25 August 2021

We are looking for

We are looking for a PhD candidate for the research project 'Why not? Understanding and overcoming consumer resistance to sustainable innovations'. Novel business models, innovative processes, and new products and services that support the circular economy (CE), so-called CE innovations, are needed to enable the transition to a CE. However, many of these CE innovations fail because they are resisted by consumers. While there is a plethora of studies on innovation adoption, literature on consumer resistance to innovation is relatively scarce, especially in the context of CE innovations.

The current PhD project focuses on resistance to innovations in the context of waste separation, and the overarching research question 'How can consumer resistance to CE innovations be understood and overcome?' will be addressed by three subprojects. These projects are co-designed with the Municipality of Nijmegen, MARN, Dar, and ARN. Subproject 1 aims to understand the main barriers to the transition to a CE on the macro-, meso- and microlevel in three different CE waste separation innovation cases, and to select a case where consumer resistance represents a major barrier in the transition to a CE. Subproject 2 aims to develop a process model of consumer resistance to CE innovations. Subproject 3 aims to develop and test a large-scale intervention (a serious game) aimed at overcoming consumer resistance to CE innovations.

The PhD project will be supervised by a multidisciplinary research team (Nijmegen School of Management: Dr Simone Ritter, Prof. Bas Hillebrand; Faculty of Social Sciences: Prof. Rob Holland).

We ask

• A Master's degree (preferably a Research Master's degree) in a relevant social science (e.g., psychology, behavioural science, behaviour change, business administration, public administration, communication science).
• Good academic writing skills (as evidenced by an academic paper or Master's thesis) and an interest in translating research findings for non-academic stakeholders.
• A genuine interest in the research topic.
• Strong conceptual thinking skills.
• Strong methodological skills (preferably experience with skills that are needed for advanced quantitative and qualitative research).
• A good command of written and spoken English, and at least a working knowledge of Dutch.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and willingness to actively interact with our societal partners (the Municipality of Nijmegen, MARN, Dar, and ARN).
• The ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Good communication skills.

We are

The Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) is an academic centre of research and higher education, focusing on institutional and managerial issues within complex organisations. Under the motto 'Creating Knowledge for Society', NSM's Institute for Management Research (IMR) focuses on academic research into the development, design and effectiveness of the public and private structures that regulate, govern or manage human interactions.

As a PhD candidate, you will be part of the Chair Group of Marketing at the Department of Business Administration. The Chair Group's research aligns with the Responsible Organisation research programme of the Department of Business Administration. More specifically, the research focuses on the responsible aspects of consumer behaviour and marketing management and innovation, including topics such as customer co-creation, environmentally friendly consumer behaviour, adoption of innovations, market creation for sustainable innovations, open innovation, and green product development.

Since the PhD project is a collaboration between various research groups (Marketing; Environmental Governance and Politics; Social and Cultural Psychology) and two faculties (Nijmegen School of Management; Faculty of Social Sciences), you are also welcome to participate in a relevant labgroup on behaviour change within the Behavioural Science Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, hosted by Prof. Rob Holland.

Radboud University

We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

We offer

• Employment: 1.0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,434 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,111 in the fourth year (salary scale P ).
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).
• The intended start date is 15 November 2021.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services . Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions . You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Would you like more information?
For more information about this vacancy, please contact:
Dr Simone Ritter, Associate Professor Marketing and Innovation
Tel.: +3124 361 18 68
Email: [email protected]

Prof. Bas Hillebrand, Professor of Marketing management and innovation
Tel.: +3124 361 18 47
Email: [email protected]

Apply directly

Please address your application to Dr Simone Ritter and submit it, using the application button, no later than 25 August 2021, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone.   

Your application should include the following attachments:

• Letter of motivation.
• CV.
• A sample of your writing skills (e.g. an academic paper or Master's thesis).

The first round of job interviews is expected to take place on 9 September 2021, the potential second round of job interviews is expected to take place on 24 September 2021.

We drafted this vacancy to find and hire our new colleague ourselves. Recruitment agencies are kindly requested to refrain from responding.