PhD in Market formation for sustainability innovations

Faculty of Geosciences

Department:
Department of Sustainable Development

Hours per week:
28 to 40

Application deadline:
15 May 2024
Are you passionate about understanding how markets are created for sustainable innovations? Do you want to contribute to sustainability transition through making sense of how these innovations become more widely applied in society? Then this opportunity at the

is for you.

Your job

The transition to a sustainable society has been driven for years by small-scale experiments with technologies, such as electric cars, meat substitutes, and preventative health devices. These technologies have evolved into viable options for consumers and are thus poised for large-scale deployment. At the moment, there is a need for a better understanding of upscaling of such sustainability innovations.

In this project, you will take an empirical approach to investigate how markets for sustainable innovations have been created in the past, explore how technological, regulatory, and market-related factors contribute to market formations, and develop a future-oriented methodology to better capture what kind of markets we want for sustainable innovations. The study will be conducted in the sustainability-related fields of mobility, energy, food and health, and in close collaboration with societal stakeholders.

Your qualities

This PhD project is the right fit for you if:

• you have a (research) Master's degree in innovation sciences, science and technology studies, marketing studies, economic geography, human geography, sociology, history or a related social science discipline;
• you are interested in the intersection between sustainability transitions, innovation processes and market formation;
• you have a clear understanding of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, demonstrated through grade transcripts and CV;
• you have excellent writing and communication skills, demonstrated through a writing example such as your Master's thesis;
• you can work in a self-propelled manner;
• you are interested in collaborating with societal partners as the research project proceeds;
• you are able and excited to work in an interdisciplinary team;
• you are willing to acquire new skills as required for the research of the PhD project.

You may be an even better fit if you have:

• experience in topics related to management literature, institutional theory, and/or futuring;
• experience with working in transdisciplinary environments;
• experience in developing a manuscript for publication of publishing as the lead author, a conference paper or international peer-reviewed journal.

Our offer

We offer:

• a temporary position, initially for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a gross monthly salary between € 2.770,- and € 3.539,- in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the
laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating
, leave schemes and schemes for
, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit

.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At
, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major
. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability.
.
Utrecht University’s
studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The
is part of the Faculty of Geosciences. The institute investigates and develops processes and opportunities for innovative change towards sustainability.

is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the Netherlands.

More information

For more information, please contact contact
at
The project will be supervised by
,
and Prof Wouter Boon.
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a
for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send us the following documents via the 'apply now' button:

• your Curriculum Vitae (CV), including appendixes with grade transcripts for your Bachelor’s and Master’s programme, and the names and contact details of 2-3 references;
• A motivation letter of no more than two A4 pages explaining your interest and suitability for the position.

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