Vacancy: (Junior) Researcher Social dimensions of the Energy Transition – Fulfilled

We are seeking to expand our team with a new researcher, to support on-going and new research projects and to support bringing science to practice in consultancy and education. We are looking for a driven, socially engaged and outstanding researcher interested in sustainability transitions in general and in the social dimensions of energy transitions in particular. Are you our new colleague?

The researcher will spend the majority of his/her time most likely working on the EU-funded PROSEU (PROSumers for the Energy Union: mainstreaming active participation of citizens in the energy transition) research project and the EU-funded Energy Shifts coordination and support action. But the projects he or she works on might be adapted during the contract period and especially if the contract is prolonged.

We seek a motivated transdisciplinary researcher that can work at the interface of theory and practice. Experience in working with non-profit and community actors and policy actors in designing, implementing and/or analysing participatory processes is desired.

Besides the PROSEU and Energy Shifts projects, the researcher will support acquisition of research proposals, bridge science to practice in consultancy projects and support education with DRIFT’s Transition Academy.

The candidate should have:

• A completed university B.Sc./B.A. and M.Sc./M.A. degree in Environmental Science, Planning, Sociology, Political Science, Innovation Studies or similar, preferably with knowledge on energy;
• Preferably, professional experience of 1-3 years, or demonstrable relevant experience;
• Ability to connect theory with practice and preferably a proven experience in transdisciplinary research;
• Strong academic and professional writing skills in both English and Dutch is a prerequisite;
• Intercultural flexibility and remote communication skills (much of the communications and project activities will happen virtually using emails, Skype and other teleconference tools);
• Independent, proactive, pragmatic and chaos-resistant.

Conditions of employment
DRIFT offers a dynamic and challenging environment and has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8 %, a good leave arrangement, a flexible pension plan and various collective insurances. Employees can use the sport accommodation and the university library. The salary for this contract is subject to salary scale 8 CAO-NU (€2,579 to €3,445 gross) depending on experience. The Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) is explicitly not applicable.

Duration of the contract: one year (with the intention to prolong) and 1,0 FTE (0,8 FTE can be discussed). The contract will start as soon as possible. Prolongation of the contract is possible under the same operating conditions and on good performance. This is for assessment by the employer.

Job application
Deadline for applications is January 6th, 2019. Applicants are invited to send their application consisting of the following to Mrs. Maryce Koedood:

• Resume / CV, in English
• Motivation letter of maximum 500 words, in English
• An executive summary of your MSc thesis, in English, highlighting the methodology used and key findings of max 2 pages; and your MSc thesis.
• Any peer-reviewed first author scientific publications, if you have these.

Important Dates

• Application submission deadline is on the January 6^th, 2019.
• A first round of interviews will be held on January 15^th, 2019. For applicants who live outside the Netherlands we will conduct the interview via Skype.
• Ideally, appointment will start no later than the March 1^st, 2019.

About DRIFT
The Dutch Research Institute for Transitions is an action research institute located at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Founded in 2004, Drift evolved from a Dutch based research institute to an internationally oriented institute with worldwide networks, projects and contributions in the field of sustainability transitions. We are a young, ambitious and interdisciplinary group of researchers, trainers and consultants that combine academia with reflexive activism. Our backgrounds range from innovation studies and environmental science, to sociology, political science, policy analysis, geography, anthropology, engineering, history, as well as economics and philosophy.

Drift aims to understand, facilitate and accelerate sustainability transitions, by putting scientific theory into practice and by implementing and developing innovative governance approaches, such as Transition Management. Next to (action) research, Drift advises governments and companies within the Netherlands, Europe and non-European countries. Furthermore, Drift is actively involved in education through multiple courses, coaching trajectories, workshops, in-company trainings and creative educational experiments.

Acquisition as a result of this vacancy is not appreciated.