Postdoctoral Researcher on Load Shifting Within the Electricity Grid

Shape the future of energy governance as a postdoctoral researcher
The transition to a climate-neutral energy system by 2050 demands a fundamental shift in how we use our energy system. One of the key challenges is that the electricity system in the Netherlands is getting close to full capacity. Firms that want to get connected to the electricity grid face long waiting times, and new housing developments are stalled. This causes enormous costs for society. How can we make sure that no firms and households are excluded from the electricity grid? One way this problem might be solved is by ‘load shifting’: shifting energy away from rush hours. Can we nudge people to shift the peaks of their energy use? The Department of Economics and the Academic Collaborative Center for Climate and Energy at Tilburg University and its partners are looking for answers to these questions. 

We are looking for a talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher to explore solutions to the limits of the electricity grid. Your research will focus on the challenges around load shifting. Are you passionate about energy policy, and market transformation? Do you want to contribute to cutting-edge research, in close collaboration with industry partners, that will help shape the future of sustainable energy? Then we invite you to apply!

Your position 
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will explore fundamental questions such as:

• How can electricity use of firms/households be kept within the limits of the electricity grid?
• What are the challenges in reducing electricity peaks over the course of a day?
• Can we nudge households/firms to shift their electricity use away from rush hours?

Through empirical research, experimental research, or both, your research will provide crucial insights into load shifting, and behavioral responses to interventions targeting a reduction of electricity use at peak hours. Additional analyses such as into costs and benefits will show how effective the interventions can be at a larger scale. The outcome of your research will be of great value to solving the societal issues around the congestion of the electricity grid. 
This position is embedded within both the Department of Economics at Tilburg School for Economics and Management, and the University-Wide Academic Collaborative Center on Climate and Energy, which brings together various disciplines across the university as well as societal partners to contribute with scientific knowledge and practical solutions to a socially just energy transition. 
Key to the position is close collaboration with both fellow researchers and diverse societal partners and external stakeholders, bridging the gap between academia and practice. This offers a unique opportunity to combine high-level cutting-edge academic research with tangible societal impact, helping to shape the governance of a sustainable energy future. Part of your role will be to reinforce existing connections with societal partners of the Academic Collaborative Center and, where desirable and feasible, to establish new connections. 

The successful candidate will:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research in load shifting, and mitigating electricity use during peak hours, leading to peer-reviewed international publications and outputs such as industry or policy reports,
• Contribute to ongoing projects and collaborative initiatives of the Academic Collaborative Center
• Closely collaborate with both fellow researchers and diverse societal partners and external stakeholders, bridging the gap between academia and practice,
• Proactively seek funding opportunities at Dutch and EU levels, coordinating grant applications and research projects for government bodies and other institutions,
• Be an active member of the Economics and ACC communities, participating in and organizing events, workshops, and conferences, and presenting research findings at national and international forums, and
• Engage in limited educational tasks (0.1 - 0.2 FTE), including contributing to teaching, supervising and grading theses and assisting in courses or executive training programs.

Your profile 
We understand that no candidate will meet every single requirement, and we do not want lists to discourage talented applicants. If you are excited about this position but do not tick every box, we still encourage you to apply! In your application, tell us not only about the qualifications you bring but also about the areas you are eager to develop further.
For this position, we are seeking a motivated and talented postdoctoral researcher who:

• Holds (or is close to completing) a PhD in economics, econometrics, applied micro-economics, behavioral economics, or a related field.
• Has expertise in energy markets or sustainability in broader terms.
• Has experience in collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and bridging connections between researchers and practitioners, and the ability to switch from working with researchers to working with partners from practice, 
• Communicates effectively, presenting ideas clearly and engaging with diverse audiences.
• Is fluent in Dutch and English,
• Is proactive, independent, and creative, with a vision for innovative research.
• Demonstrates leadership and self-awareness, critically reflecting on both the scientific and societal impact of their work.
• Wants to contribute to Tilburg University’s dynamic research community on climate and energy and help build an inspiring work environment.

Our offer 
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment: 

• A position based on 0.8 - 1.0 FTE (32-40 hours per week).
• A salary of minimum € 4,537 and maximum €6,209 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3 and salary scale 11. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience. 
• This is a vacancy  for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 sub b CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 24 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. 
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave. 
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport. 
• A monthly internet allowance of €25.
• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center. 
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions). 
• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary. 
• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center. 
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities. 
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. 

For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities. 

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg School of Economics and Management
Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) is the university largest faculty.  TiSEM offers well reputed academic research and education. Its research belongs to the European top. The education programs, of which the majority are offered completely in English, are on the international map with the AACSB accreditation awarded in 2002. Employees and students form an ambitious international community. Tilburg School of Economics and Management

Department of Economics
The Economics Department at Tilburg University is internationally renowned for its excellence in research and teaching. Consistently ranked among the top economics departments in Europe, it offers a vibrant and collaborative academic environment. Faculty members are leaders in fields such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, behavioral economics, and econometrics, and actively contribute to top-tier journals and policy discussions. The department fosters interdisciplinary research and maintains strong ties with leading institutions worldwide. Tilburg University provides an inspiring setting for academic growth and innovation. Join us in advancing cutting-edge economic research that addresses the world’s most pressing challenges.

Academic Collaborative Center for Climate and Energy
At Tilburg University, researchers and practice partners join forces to drive impactful climate action and energy transition. Through cutting-edge research and real-world solutions, they contribute to a socially just and sustainable future. Since early 2023, the university-wide Academic Collaborative Center (ACC) for Climate & Energy has been the hub for this collaboration. Bringing together over 40 academic researchers from various disciplines and 12 practice partners – ranging from government bodies to grid operators and consumer organizations – the ACC tackles critical challenges in market design and regulation, governance and participation, data and digitalization, and communication and behavior. By bridging science and practice, Tilburg University is shaping the future of sustainable energy with knowledge that makes a difference.

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr. Jan Stoop (j.t.r.stoop@tilburguniversity.edu), Associate Professor within the Department of Economics, Director of the Tilburg Sustainability Center, and Thematic Lead for Market Design and Regulation at the Academic Collaborative Center for Climate and Energy.

We kindly invite you to apply before June 30, 2025; this can only be done through the online system. Address your cover letter to Dr. Jan Stoop and include your CV, your top three (forthcoming) scientific publications, a professional publication written for a broader audience, and your PhD certificate. When you do not hold a PhD degree yet, you need to provide written proof that your dissertation has been approved by the promotion committee for defense when the first interview round takes place.
At last, you need to include at least two references in your motivation letter (including name, phone number and email address). Please note that we only contact references after the first interview round.