The Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development is looking for an excellent, motivated and goal-oriented Postdoctoral Researcher with a background in Science and Technology Studies (STS) and/or Innovation Studies. It will be the primary task of the Postdoc to contribute to the international research project GATEKEEPER, funded under the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme. The project is one of the European Commission’s flagship initiatives on digital health innovations. It designs, evaluates and implements digital platforms to support healthy ageing at home at 7 European pilot sites. The Copernicus Institute leads the research on Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH) and scaling-up of healthy ageing initiatives. For the Postdoc, the project will provide a unique opportunity to study “innovation in action” at the 7 pilot sites, involving a broad range of stakeholders and end-users.

This position focuses on participative development of a co-creation methodology to elicit and discuss future positions and needs in the extended stakeholder community around the GATEKEEPER platform. The tasks of the Postdoc involve the design and organization of a number of open innovation workshops where the methodology is applied, and in which new scaling-up and innovation strategies are tested.

The ideal candidate thrives in international and multidisciplinary environments, can communicate effectively with various stakeholders and has sharp analytical skills.

Specifically, the position requires:

• a thorough basis (proven by a PhD) in Science and Technology Studies, Innovation Studies or a related discipline;
• an affinity the social aspects of digital technologies related to health and ageing; 
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
• the ability to work in a self-propelled manner in large interdisciplinary and international teams;
• experience in the design and implementation of participatory and/or co-creation methods.

We offer a Postdoc position (0.8 FTE) for the duration of 12 months. The gross monthly salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranges between €2,709 and €4,274 (scale 10 Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % of annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3 % of annual salary per year. We offer a pension scheme, (partly paid) parental leave, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). Facilities for sports and child care are available on our main campus which is located only 15 minutes away from the historical city centre of Utrecht. More information is available at: working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, colleagues from various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Sustainability, Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, and Life Sciences.

Utrecht University has been ranked in the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities as the best university in the Netherlands, and as one of the leading research universities in Europe. Utrecht University's sustainability research has the greatest citation impact worldwide according to a study conducted by Times Higher Education (2016).

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the Netherlands.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.