Postdoc Understanding Social Dynamics in the Energy Transition via computational modelling with Agent Networks

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen; Groningen; Presencial; EUR 41.000 - 51.000; Tempo integral

Benefícios oferecidos por esta vaga

Salary 3706–4599 EUR gross monthly

232 vacation hours per year

8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday—

Professional development opportunities

Fixed-term contract 1.0 FTE for 3years

Resumo da vaga

The University of Groningen invites applications for a Postdoctoral researcher to study social dynamics in the energy transition using agent-based modelling. The project is part of ECHO and involves collaboration between the Department of Sociology, RUG, and the Institute of Energy Informatics at Oldenburg.

The successful candidate will extend ABM/opinion dynamics models, link them with empirical social network data, and contribute to testing hypotheses with simulations and experiments, under a

Qualificações

• A PhD degree in sociology (or related discipline), preferably with a dissertation topic related to computational sociology.
• A relevant publication record related to the project topic, demonstrating your ability to publish in peer-reviewed international academic journals.
• Demonstrable skills and experience in computational sociology, especially agent-based computational modelling.
• Interest in and knowledge of research addressing social aspects of the energy transition, especially literature on social influence processes in this domain.
• Demonstrable skills in related empirical research, especially social network research and / or behavioral experiments or use of digital trace data.
• A clear interest in collaborative interdisciplinary research.
• Excellent command of the English language; command of German and Dutch is desirable.
• Ability to work independently and manage joint research activities.
• A team player with strong communication skills.

Responsabilidades

• Develop existing opinion dynamics ABM further to make them applicable to empirical settings relevant to societal debates about the energy transition.
• Collaborate with the German partner to align ABM with LLM-based agent models.
• Empirically test hypotheses derived from the computational modelling approaches using social network data or related experiments.
• Contribute to the teaching program of the department (about 10% work time) in line with university requirements.

Conhecimentos

PhD in sociology

Publication record

Agent-based modelling

Computational sociology

Social network data

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English proficiency

German/Dutch desirable

Formação

PhD in sociology

Ferramentas

NetLogo

Python

Descrição da vaga

Postdoc Understanding Social Dynamics in the Energy Transition via computational modelling with Agent Networks

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher with demonstrable skills and experience in studying social aspects of the energy transition with computational modelling methods. The postdoc project is conducted in the framework of the project ECHO (Energy transition, Collective dynamics and Human Opinions in agent-networks), financed by both DFG and NWO . This project requires close collaboration between the project team at the Department of Sociology at RUG (PI prof. dr. Andreas Flache ) and the project team at the Institute of Energy Informatics at the University of Oldenburg (PI prof. dr. Sebastian Lehnhoff ).

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Postdoc Understanding Social Dynamics in the Energy Transition via computational modelling with Agent Networks

The overall project focuses on modelling the dynamics of societal debates about the energy transition with two interconnected approaches, agent-based opinion dynamics models and agent-models based on LLM-agents. The part of the project conducted at RUG under the lead of Prof. Andreas Flache will focus in particular on the ABM / opinion dynamics aspect, linking models to empirical data on social networks in communities facing debates about local renewable energy initiatives. Comparison and, where possible, integration of the two modelling approaches is a core part of the project, requiring close collaboration with the German partner.

The postdoc develops existing opinion dynamics ABM further to make them applicable to empirical settings relevant to societal debates about the energy transition, using simulation tools like NetLogo or Python. Further, in close collaboration with the entire project team, the postdoc will contribute to comparison and alignment of the opinion dynamics models with LLM-based agent models developed by the German project partner. Finally, the postdoc will contribute to empirical testing of hypotheses derived from the computational modelling approaches, using relevant empirical social network data or, depending on interest, skills and availability, behavioral experiments or online data.

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Who are you?

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in sociology (or a related discipline), preferably with a dissertation topic related to computational sociology.
• A relevant publication record related to the project topic, demonstrating your ability to publish in peer-reviewed international academic journals.
• Demonstrable skills and experience in computational sociology, especially agent-based computational modelling.
• Interest in and knowledge of research addressing social aspects of the energy transition, especially literature on social influence processes in this domain.
• Demonstrable skills in related empirical research, especially social network research and / or behavioral experiments or use of digital trace data.
• A clear interest in collaborative interdisciplinary research.
• Excellent command of the English language; command of German and Dutch is desirable.
• Ability to work independently and manage joint research activities.
• A team player with strong communication skills.

What can you expect from us?

• In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 3.706(salary scale 10)up to a maximum of € 4.599 (salary scale 10.5)gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
• 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.
• A fixed-term contract of 1.0 FTE for the duration of 3 years.

Where will you be working?

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 organisations 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.

The successful candidate will be embedded in the Department of Sociology at RUG and the national-level interuniversity research and training centreICS ( Interuniversity Center of Social Science Theory and Methodology ), a leading PhD training and research centre in Dutch Sociology with ample opportunities for exchange and presentation of interim results at the research group, department and interuniversity level. Locally, the postdoc will be part of and contribute to the activities of the research cluster "Norms and Networks" at the Department of Sociology, led by Prof. Andreas Flache. In the DFG-NWO weave project, the postdoc will collaborate with the project team, including the PI’s, Prof. Jacob Dijkstra at Sociology RUG, a PhD candidate located at the University of Oldenburg and research assistants.

The postdoc will also contribute to the teaching program of the department (about 10% work time) in accordance with NWO requirements and faculty policies.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about your application process?

When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible.

The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy .

Acquisition is not appreciated.

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP Application Code.