NEON 'lights the way to zero emission energy and mobility'. If you become a researcher within NEON you will be actively involved in solving the interrelated challenges of climate, energy and mobility. NEON does this in close collaboration with companies and policy makers. Key to NEON is an interdisciplinary approach combining social, economic and technological expertise. In addition to producing excellent science, NEON aims at a large societal impact. One of the ways this will done is by publishing an annual New Energy Outlook for the Netherlands, which analyses the current state of the renewable energy and smart mobility transitions and summarizes all the research done within the project over the past year.

At TU/e we are inviting applications to join the NEON team.

• Vacancy A (1 PhD position) The NEON project: Energy demand and new market models
• Vacancy B (1 PhD position) The NEON project: Technical standards to accelerate the energy transition
• Vacancy C (2 PhD positions) The NEON project: Modeling the energy and mobility transition
• Vacancy D (1 PhD position) The NEON project: Modeling and evaluating the environmental effects of the energy and mobility transition 

Vacancy C (2 PhD positions) The NEON project: Modeling the energy and mobility transition

This project aims to develop the core NEON models. Using agent-based simulation and other modelling approaches you will develop a methodology that turns the inputs of NEON researchers and stakeholders in energy and mobility into integral, quantified and potentially disruptive scenarios. These models will be used to, together with stakeholders, find scenarios that can successfully address energy, mobility and climate challenges. Creating these models entails several modeling and conceptual challenges, from creating digital twins of specific neighbourhoods to forecasting the role of emerging or novel technologies in the future energy system to creating interfaces that allow stakeholders and policymakers to meaningfully interact with the models. For these positions we are looking for candidates with a background in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or Energy sciences.

Organisation

The above PhD projects are embedded in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). TU/e is one of the world's leading research universities (ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement). It is in particular well‐known for its joint research with industry (ranked number one worldwide by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies).

Within the Department IE&IS you will be affiliated with the research group Technology, Innovation & Society (TIS). The TIS group of the School of Innovation Sciences is an ambitious, international group. Our research focuses on understanding the development and use of technology in a societal context. Our staff teaches in the BSc program 'Sustainable Innovation', and the MSc program 'Innovation Sciences', as well as in university-wide programs for engineering students.

The department of IE&IS has a strong national and international reputation for both basic research in the academic community and applied research with industry. You will have the opportunity to benefit from that environment and to contribute to the ongoing research.

The ideal advanced students for this program will have a strong, demonstrated capacity to undertake advanced study in technology- and policy-related fields, with a high level of accomplishment in their Master's level study. More specifically, NEON PhD candidates:

• hold a relevant Master's degree (see details above).
• have good communication skills and command of written and spoken English
• are reliable, can work and deliver timely both independently and in a team, and have strong organisational skills and a pro-active work attitude.

 

• You are part of the NEON 'family' of over 30 PhD students that support each other and work together. Physical and virtual facilities and activities and support are organised to facilitate this.
• A full-time appointment for a period of 4 years at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). With an intermediate evaluation after nine months
• Gross monthly salary from € 2.395 (gross in the first year) to € 3.061 per month (last year).
• TU/e offers an additional 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• An attractive package of fringe benefits, including a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program), and excellent sport facilities.
• You are part of the NEON family.

Furthermore, the project support its PhD students through job-crafting, monthly coaching and co-creation workshops and a shared 'innovation space' where all researchers come together at least once a week to create a truly and well-integrated multidisciplinary team, all working towards the shared goal of accelerating the sustainability transition.