Postdoc Public perceptions and acceptability of Hydrogen Developments

Job description
Join us in this exciting and multidisciplinary endeavor to shape the future of hydrogen as a sustainable and socially accepted energy solution.
What are you going to do?
Hydrogen is a rapidly evolving development aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen is not an energy source in itself, but serves as an energy carrier. Energy produced from gas and/or renewable energy sources can be saved and stored in a form of hydrogen and used when needed. The development and implementation of hydrogen is a technological and, more importantly, a societal challenge. It is critical to gain understanding of how people form their perceptions and acceptability judgements of hydrogen projects, which key factors play a role in public perceptions and acceptability, and how to incorporate this knowledge in socially responsible policy-making. These questions are at the heart of this project. In this postdoc position, you will i) conduct large-scale longitudinal surveys to study the relationships between the identified factors and public perceptions and acceptability of hydrogen; ii) conduct experimental studies to infer the causal relationships between the identified factors and public acceptability of hydrogen; iii) give evidence-based recommendations for how to better incorporate public perceptions and acceptability in policy-making, and iv) carry out dissemination activities to communicate the findings to other professionals from science and practice, and the general population. Besides, the project implies collaboration with multiple other partners from science (different disciplines), industry, organizations, and government bodies.

Requirements
We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements
The successful candidate should hold (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in Environmental Psychology or a related discipline and be familiar with Environmental psychology theories and research in energy and social science. Furthermore, the successful candidate should be comfortable working with quantitative empirical methods, including longitudinal survey and experimental methodologies, ideally with substantial prior experience. Finally, the successful candidate should have:
experience working with large-scale datasets and projects involving multiple stakeholders.
excellent command of the English language;
ability to work independently and manage joint research activities;
a team player with strong communication skills;
demonstrable competences as conceptual capacity, environment orientation, presenting and result orientation.

Conditions of employment
Fixed-term
contract
: A temporary contract of 0.9 FTE for a period of 28 months.
What can you expect from us?
232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

Employer
University of Groningen
At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

Department
Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (GMW) excels in research and teaching in the areas of behaviour, thinking, learning, and participation in society. More than 4,500 students and approximately 650 staff address social questions and challenges that people experience in daily life. Our core focus is on individual and societal resilience and how to strengthen it. We focus on current themes such as health and wellbeing, sustainable living, learning and development, inclusive society, safe and healthy upbringing, and work and collaboration. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, visit
rug.nl/gmw
.
Environmental Psychology 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 understanding which factors influence sustainable behaviours (such as energy use, car use, food consumption); understanding how people cope with environmental and climate risks; understanding the effectiveness of strategies to promote sustainable behaviour; understanding the acceptability of environmental policies; and the effects of sustainable behaviour on wellbeing. The research contributes to theory development and to practice. The Environmental Psychology group collaborates with scholars from different disciplines within and outside the University of Groningen, as well as with governments, NGOs, businesses, and organisations.