The project RESPECT aims to study the effects of public participation in decision-making on public acceptability of renewable energy policies and projects. We propose that in order to achieve socially acceptable energy policies and projects, equal opportunities need to be created for different groups to participate in decision making and people’s different values need to be taken into account. You will design public participation strategies and carry out quantitative and qualitative studies (e.g. questionnaires, experiments, longitudinal research, semi-structured interviews) to examine the effects of these strategies on public acceptability of renewable energy policies and projects. You will study real-life public participation in decision-making on polices and projects in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Zuid Holland. You will collaborate closely with the local provinces and municipalities, as well as with business associations and knowledge institutes, in order to conduct the research and to disseminate your findings in practice. You will publish the results of your studies in international scientific journals as well as popular magazines and newsletters, and present your studies at international conferences and to project partners. You will report the results to the consortium partners and formulate policy implications for how to engage the public in decision making on energy polices and projects. You will work in an interdisciplinary team of environmental psychologists and lawyers.

We are looking for an early-career scholar who has a strong research record, and is interested in studying the effects of public participation in decision making on public acceptability of renewable energy policies and projects.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
• a PhD degree in a field relevant to public participation in decision-making and public acceptability of energy policies/projects, such as Environmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Political Sciences, Sociology (of law), and Public Administration
• knowledge and skills in quantitative and qualitative research with human subjects
• a relevant publication record demonstrating your ability to publish international academic publications, preferably in top tier peer-reviewed journals
• experience with theory driven research with a clear eye for practical implications
• a clear interest in collaborative interdisciplinary research
• the ability to manage collaborations with partners outside academia (e.g. local governments, businesses)
• the ability to communicate verbally and in written form in English and preferably Dutch
• ability to work independently and manage joint research activities
• a team player with good communication skills.

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary based on qualifications and experience of starting at € 3,255 gross per month (salary scale 10)
- excellent secondary terms of employment
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- 232 holiday hours per calendar year for full time employment
- participation in a pension scheme for employees
- a temporary fulltime appointment for a specified period of 48 months.

The preferred starting date is the 1st of June 2020

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Since its founding in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education, offering high-quality teaching and research. We encourage the 32,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Among the best research universities in Europe, we join forces with prestigious partner universities and networks around the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Faculty of Behavarioural and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences is a centre of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. The faculty studies issues relating to human behaviour, and the relationships between people and society as a whole. This includes the study of how people function under normal circumstances, but also of the problems encountered by individuals or groups, and how these can be resolved or prevented. The Department of Psychology is part of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, and offers bachelor’s and master’s programmes in both Dutch and English to over 3000 students.

Environmental Psychology group
The Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen has a national and international reputation for excellence. Research within the Environmental Psychology group focuses on a wide range of topics, including individual and situational factors influencing sustainable behaviour (such as household energy use, car use, food consumption); effective ways to promote sustainable behaviour; the acceptability of energy sources, systems and policies; and the effects of sustainable behaviour on wellbeing. The research has the explicit aim of both contributing to theory development and practice, and is embedded in the research programme Interpersonal Behaviour, as well as in two of the focus areas of the University of Groningen: Energy and Sustainable Society. The group collaborates with scholars from different disciplines within and outside the University of Groningen, as well as with governments, NGOs, and various business organisations.

Department of Business Law, European Law and Tax Law
The Department of Business Law, European Law and Tax Law. Within this department there’s a high-profile and dynamic research-led group working, which engages in research in both the classic and more recent areas of European Law. The current research of the department covers subjects such as (but not limited to) the Internal Market; Judicial Protection; Citizenship; Rights and Values in the European Union; Energy Law; Competition Law, and European Environmental Law.

All the members of the Department of Business Law, European Law and Tax Law participate in the research programmes of the Faculty of Law. In particular, the Department plays a major role in the research programme 'Protecting European Citizens and Market Participants'. Various members also participate in the activities of the Groningen Centre of Energy Law.