Are you passionate about sustainability? Are you eager to contribute to transformation of universities?

We are offering a PhD position on the role of technical universities, TU/e in particular, as change agents for sustainability transitions.

Job Description

A successful applicant will perform this action research project in line with the activities of the university sustainability ambassador, prof. dr. Anna Wieczorek. The specific tasks of the PhD candidate include: i) research into new roles technical universities can assume in view of sustainability challenges; ii) research into how universities can mobilize their staff and student community around sustainability transitions, and iii) research into participatory ways sustainability can be assessed and integrated in the ongoing TU/e research, education, operations and/or governance activities.

The candidate will report the research findings at international conferences and in scientific journals. Given the very practical dimension of this project, the research findings will also be applied in practical environment of the TU/e and disseminated via non-academic channels. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to profit from what such an environment has to offer. The PhD candidate will be part of the TIS group, fully participate in the activities of the Sustainability Office and support the ambassador in the management tasks. A small teaching load is part of the job description.

• Master's degree in sustainable innovation, sustainability transitions, or equivalent.
• A research-oriented attitude and scientific mindedness.
• Eagerness to engage with participatory, action-oriented approaches to research.
• Methodological skills and proven experience with mixed methods designs.
• Experience with university or student-oriented sustainability initiatives.
• Ability to work in an inter- and transdisciplinary team.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Proficiency in English (C1 level), Dutch is a pro.
• Motivation to develop teaching skills and coach students.
• Enthusiasm, self-reliance, strong organizational skills.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2.901,00 max. €3.707,00).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility, if applicable) for international candidates.

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is a leading international university of technology, where people are the heart and soul. With excellent research and education programs, we are an important hub in a world-class high-tech ecosystem. We contribute to progress in the technical sciences, to the development of socio-technical innovations, and as a result, to the sustainability and welfare in the region and beyond. We participate in collaborations with industry and civil society organizations, and we are the academic heart of the top technology region Brainport. Given the pressing societal challenges such as climate change, three objectives are fundamental to our vision for 2030: a sustainable world, the technological revolution, and the impact of technology on society. Taking this major responsibility of contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals implies the need to develop new knowledge, skills, and competencies and to rethink the ways we educate our future engineers. See also: TU/e Strategy 2030.

The Technology, Innovation & Society (TIS) group, where the PhD position is embedded, is part of the School of Innovation Sciences, one of the two schools of the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS). Research at TIS concerns how humans and societies bring about technological change, and how technological innovations change society. Researchers in the TIS group study these processes in a systemic, transdisciplinary, and transnational perspective. The research focus of TIS covers both short-term processes (innovations) and long-term, fundamental processes (transitions), and addresses multiple aspects of the innovation journey - invention, innovation, diffusion, appropriation, governance, policy intervention along with local and global impacts on society. Many of the TIS research projects are strongly embedded in practical environments and involve co-creation and an action research approach.

Sustainability Office is a central team dedicated to integrating sustainability in all domains of the University and beyond. We monitor and stimulate the transition to a sustainable University, advise our Executive Board, and connect all necessary stakeholders. A part of the Sustainability Office is the TU/e GO Green Office (GGO), a team of students committed to integrating Sustainability into the lives of all TU/e students. The Sustainability Office collaborates closely with our Sustainability Ambassador, Anna J. Wieczorek and in partnership with various internal and external departments and organizations. By bringing science and implementation together, the Sustainability Office aims to speed up the execution of new and ongoing sustainability initiatives, based on latest scientific insights and real-life experience.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact prof. dr. Anna J Wieczorek (a.j.wieczorek@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

For information about terms of employment, please contact HR Services (hrservices.ieis@tue.nl).

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

1. Cover letter (max 1-page) where you outline your motivation and interest in the position and explain how your profile fits the proposed project.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including name and contact information of three referees.
3. A 1,500-word research proposal that outlines how you would approach this topic and ideas for conducting the research.
4. A sample research document written by you: a relevant paper, or a master thesis.
5. Results of a recent English language test, or other evidence of your English language capabilities.

The deadline to apply is 31 January 2025. However, candidates are invited to apply as soon as possible. The intended starting date for this position is February 2025 but will be filled in earlier if a suitable candidate is found. The interviews will be held in the week of February 10th, 2025. We do not accept applications sent by e-mail or incomplete ones.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.