Job Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences - PhD Researcher Innovation Studies (1,0 fte)

Energy transition processes take a very long time. One of the reasons is the huge inertia of existing systems and the unwillingness of very powerful regime actors to quickly move into new directions. Entrepreneurs with novel ideas often do not posses the power to break through these inert techno-institutional complexes. Therefore, they need to develop specific strategies in order to become successful.

This project focuses on the fundamental mechanism that strongly influences all energy transition processes: the interplay between strategies of entrepreneurs who strive to introduce novelty and strategies of incumbents who have strong vested interests and therefore often resist these processes of change. The two types of actors differ strongly in their respective power positions and therefore very different strategies are likely to be pursued. The government is often confronted with the strategies of both types of actors and needs to find a balance in dealing with both interests. Surprisingly hardly any information on this issue can be found in the literature while this is crucial information to accelerate transition processes. In the project, two empirical domains will be studied that strongly differ in the structure of the incumbent regime: the automotive sector and the built environment in The Netherlands. The PhD-student will study one of these empirical domains.

The ideal candidate holds a M.Sc. (or equivalent) degree in a relevant field (e.g. innovation studies, sustainable development, evolutionary economics, organisation science, policy science) with experience in empirical research.

We offer a fulltime Ph.D. position for 4 years. The gross monthly salary increases from € 2042,- in year 1 to € 2612,- in year 4 according to the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities. Secondary benefits include e.g. a pension scheme, flexible employment conditions, holiday bonus (8%) and end-of-year bonus (8,3 %). The Ph.D. student will be involved in the teaching program of the faculty to a maximum of 0.1 fte.

The faculty of geosciences offers high quality teaching and research in the fields of Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Innovation and Environmental Sciences and Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning. The faculty is home to almost 2000 students and a staff of over 500 people.

The Innovation Studies Group of the department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences is currently looking for the project “Power in Transition” (financed by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO)) for a

Are you interested? You can obtain further details from Prof. dr Marko Hekkert (M.Hekkert@geo.uu.nl;   phone: +31 30 253 6112).

You may also visit the faculty's website at: www.geo.uu.nl.