Two Assistant Professorship Positions in Sustainability Studies
Join us in shaping the future of sustainability governance! This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful research, inspire the next generation of students, and collaborate with colleagues in a supportive and internationally oriented environment.
We seek new enthusiastic colleagues whose academic training and research experience provide a clear foundation for contributing to:
Position 1: Social science, quantitative and qualitative methods, governance and policy studies, innovation and transition studies, participatory approaches, co-creation, transdisciplinary research, particularly in the domain of energy and climate change.
Position 2: Spatial data science, modelling (incl. ABM) and visualization, economic methods, and aiming for transparency, trend analysis and evidence-based policies, in multiple domains and upon multiple sustainability challenges.
Responsibilities
You will contribute to CSTM's research and teaching activities on pressing sustainability challenges, such as the energy transition, water governance, and climate change. Through your research, you will strengthen the research profile by contributing to collaborative projects, publishing in leading academic and professional outlets, and pursuing opportunities for external funding. This includes actively engaging with policymakers, practitioners, communities, and industry partners to ensure that research findings contribute to societal impact and are accessible to a broad range of stakeholders.Working closely with colleagues and research partners at regional, national, and international levels, you will contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration, academic networks, and the co-supervision of PhD candidates.In education, responsibilities include teaching and, over time, coordinating courses at Bachelor's and Master's level within your field of expertise. You will create engaging, research-informed learning environments, supervise undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to the further development of CSTM's educational portfolio.As an active member of the academic community, you will support an inclusive, collegial, and intellectually stimulating working environment.The position includes engagement in relevant departmental and university activities, participation in committees and academic initiatives appropriate to career stage, and contributions to the collaborative culture that characterises CSTM.
Career DevelopmentAs our new team member you will receive opportunities to develop a teaching portfolio, to establish and expand their research profile, and collaborate within and beyond the CSTM team, pursue external research funding and run and contribute to research projects. Close collaboration with experienced researchers and educators provides opportunities to further develop academic expertise while taking responsibility for parts of research projects and teaching activities.
Information and application
Are you interested in being part of our team? Please submit your application before 30 th September and include:
- A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4) outlining your interest, qualifications and motivation for the positions, be explicit with regard to the job-profile of preference and your affinity with CSTM research program themes.
- A Curriculum Vitae (maximum 4 pages A4), including an overview of relevant teaching activities, an overview of relevant research activities, an overview of acquired funding (if applicable), a list of publications, and a list of relevant certifications. You are encouraged to include the names and contact details of two academic referees.
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL).
- Proof of Dutch proficiency (CEFS Scale).
Additional information can be acquired via email from dr. Kris Lulofs; k.r.d.lulofs@utwente.nl.
Applications should be submitted through the UT job application system.
Screening is part of the selection procedure.
About the department
The successful applicant will join the Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM) group of the Technology, Policy & Society (TPS) Department at the Faculty of Behavioural, Management, and Social Sciences (BMS). Our team brings together research on sustainability, governance, technology, and societal change.
Planet and people are threatened by climate change, overextraction, overconsumption, pollution, inequalities, and exploitation of ecosystems. Our mission is to inform society and policymakers and to co-create responsible solutions for these societal and environmental challenges together with stakeholders through scientific research, academic education and knowledge exchange.We take an interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex societal challenges, combining insights from social sciences with technological and data-driven approaches. Our focus is on the planning, institutional, governance and managerial aspects of protecting and improving quality and proper use of the natural resources.
About the organisation
At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.
At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.
As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.
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