The Nijmegen School of Management is looking for a strong candidate who can support advancing the representation of social systems and behavioural factors in climate-economy-environment modelling. The postholder will contribute to a better understanding of demand-side climate change mitigation through behavioural changes and the crucial role of social systems in rapid decarbonisation.

As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to developing simulation models to study the social dynamics of low-carbon behaviour changes such as shifts to plant-based diets or low-carbon mobility, emerging from individual behaviour change and in relation to economic, environmental and political factors.  You will support existing research efforts and will also help identify, plan and create new opportunities and research directions. You will represent Radboud University in the international CHOICE project (externally funded by Horizon Europe) and collaborate with a wide network of leading scientists in modelling human and earth system feedbacks.

This PhD project will mainly involve the extension and use of an existing global system dynamics model to capture the individual, social and structural factors behind behaviour change for low-carbon consumption at a global level. It will therefore include complementary qualitative and quantitative data and model-based analysis of the feedback mechanisms leading to widespread behavioural changes and their cascading effects on global food and energy demand, as well as climate change mitigation. This PhD position will also involve producing figures, maps and visualisations to check results and efficiently communicate findings – presenting the methods and results to both technical and non-technical audiences – and writing reports and scientific papers to communicate findings.

This position is funded by external funds.

• You hold a MSc degree in a related field of economics, engineering or social sciences.
• You are a motivated researcher on climate change mitigation who is eager to understand and advance the knowledge on the role of food and energy consumption choices.
• You have knowledge of and hands-on experience with quantitative system dynamics modelling or a similar modelling methodology.
• You can fluently use system dynamics modelling software (preferably Vensim, or Stella, PowerSim, or AnyLogic) and have a good scientific programming ability, ideally in Python or a similar language.
• You are fluent in English and have good presentation and academic writing skills.
• You are able to work respectfully in an intercultural and interdisciplinary environment.

Fixed-term contract: You will be employed 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).

• Employment for 1.0 FTE.
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,770 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed 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).
• 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.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

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.

The Nijmegen School of Management enables students, institutions and companies, societal actors and governments to play their part in a transformation towards sustainable societies. In doing so, the faculty is committed to Radboud University's mission of contributing to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. In the context of our 'Responsible governance for sustainable societies' mission, we address scientific and societal challenges from a good governance perspective. Our work focuses on the topics Beyond Economy, Climate, Inclusivity, Safety, and Democracy. By building, questioning and extending the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), we acknowledge their interrelatedness and focus on a number of grand challenges within society. We contribute to innovation and sustainable growth on topics such as inequality, gender, decent work and poverty.

At the Nijmegen School of Management, academic research and teaching are carried out in challenging educational programmes. These programmes are offered in the areas of Business Administration; Economics and Business Economics; Geography, Planning and Environment; Political Science; and Public Administration. Academic research takes place within the Institute for Management Research (IMR). Research is carried out within the above-mentioned domains and in interdisciplinary research groups: the Hotspots. The Nijmegen School of Management currently has 400 FTE staff and approximately 5,000 students.



Radboud University
We are keen to meet critical thinkers who want to look closer at what really matters. People who, from their expertise, wish to contribute to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This ambition unites more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University and requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!