SOM, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) has available
1 PhD position
for the project “Transition of the energy sector and chemical industry in the Netherlands (1850-2000)”
General Information
This project is part of the program “Historical Roots of the Dutch Sustainability Challenge: The impact of the Utilization of Material Resources on the Modernization of Dutch Society, 1850-2010. The PhD will be member of a team researchers working at the University of Groningen, the Technical University of Eindhoven and Netherlands Statistics (CBS).
The aim of SOM’s PhD programme is to turn out highly qualified researchers. PhD candidates will work on an individual project, leading to a doctoral dissertation. Supervision is close and the PhD students are encouraged to present papers at international conferences and to publish in recognised international journals.
After the first year there will be an assessment of the candidate’s results and the candidates PhD project’s progress. Based on this, it will be decided whether the PhD project will be continued.
Description of the project
Most studies of sustainability analyse the present and the future. This program has a different approach: it aims to unearth the historical roots of the present problems. The Program will first establish a quantitative picture of the production and use of energy carriers, agricultural products, materials and waste products. Then the Program will analyse also qualitatively regime transitions in production, consumption and emissions in three particular domains: 1 energy and chemistry 2 agriculture and food processing 3 building and infrastructure. These case studies will establish whether the Netherlands struggled with sustainability issues in the past and how these changed? Enable transformations in the past to gain insight in the actual transformation to a more sustainable society?
This PhD position is for the subproject dealing with energy and chemistry. The PhD will participate in the initial quantitative stage. He/she then will focus upon the institutional context of transition issues, socio-technical regime characteristics and the dynamics of product-process chains. The question is to identify and explain both the emergence and persistence of sustainability problems in this domain.
Requirements
A (research) master in the field of innovation sciences, history or economics;
Interest in both quantitative and qualitative research;
Experience with historical sources and/or statistics is an advantage;
Excellent communication skills;
Teamplayer;
Knowledge of Dutch is important, Fluent in English as well;
Information
For more information on the procedure, check our website at www.rug.nl/som, or send an email to SOM, Mrs. Rina Koning, email a.c.koning@rug.nl.
Information on the project can be obtained from Dr. Ben Gales, email b.p.a.gales@rug.nl
Applications
If you are interested, we invite you to apply before October 15, 2011. All applicants are obliged to use the application form that is available at the website (http://www.rug.nl/gradschooleb/degreeProgrammes/PhDProgramme/vacancies) and send it to:
Faculty of Economics and Business, Research school SOM, Mrs. Rina Koning, P.O. Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Please note that applications in another format or applications sent to any other address will not be taken into account (including electronic mail).
Conditions
PhD candidates will have an employee status and receive a starting salary of € 2042,- euro (gross). This salary increases yearly to achieve the final salary of € 2612,- (gross).
In addition there are a 8% holiday allowance and a 8,3% end of year bonus.