Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

is op zoek naar een

PROMOVENDUS - Governance van platforms voor energiehubs

Departement: Organisatiewetenschappen

Locatie: Tilburg

Contractgrootte: 1,0 fte (40 uur per week)

Contractduur: 4 jaar (12 maanden, gevolgd door 36 maanden)

Maandelijks fulltime salaris: €3.059 - €3.881 bruto

Beoogde ingangsdatum: 1 maart 2026


Ben je geïnteresseerd in hoe bedrijven gezamenlijk kunnen bijdragen aan gedecentraliseerde, duurzame energiesystemen? Ben je benieuwd hoe digitale platforms bedrijven kunnen verbinden met decentrale energiebronnen om energiedeling mogelijk te maken, netcongestie te verminderen en de duurzaamheid te vergroten? Ben je gemotiveerd om de governance-vormen te onderzoeken die deze platforms in de praktijk laten werken en de factoren die hierop van invloed zijn? Wil je graag academische kennis vergroten en een praktische bijdrage leveren aan de energietransitie? Zo ja, dan biedt deze PhD functie je de mogelijkheid om deze vragen te onderzoeken binnen het SYNERGY-project, een gezamenlijk onderzoeksproject gefinancierd door NWO.


Het SYNERGY-project brengt een groot consortium aan onderzoekers van verschillende Nederlandse universiteiten en kennisinstituten (Universiteit van Tilburg, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Universiteit Utrecht, Universiteit Twente, Technische Universiteit Delft, Avans Hogeschool, TNO) en diverse maatschappelijke partners (zoals de provincie Noord-Brabant, de gemeente Tilburg, RVO en Enexis) samen. Gezamenlijk onderzoeken zij de rol van sociale dynamieken tussen diverse partijen in de energietransitie.


Complete Nederlandstalige versie, zie ook https://tiu.nu/22943


Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

is looking for a is looking for a PhD candidate for the project:

The Governance of Energy Hub Platforms

School and Department: Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Organization Studies

Location: Tilburg

Job profile: PhD candidate

Contract size: 1.0 fte (40 hours per week)

Contract duration: 4 years (12 months, followed by 36 months)

Monthly full-time salary: €3,059 - €3,881 gross

Starting date: preferably 1 March 2026

Are you interested in exploring how firms can collectively contribute to decentralized, sustainable energy systems? Are you curious about how digital platforms connect businesses with distributed energy resources to enable energy sharing, reduce grid congestion, and enhance sustainability? Are you motivated to investigate the governance arrangements that make these platforms work in practice and the factors influencing them? Are you eager to advance academic knowledge and make practical contributions to the energy transition? If so, this PhD position offers you the opportunity to investigate these questions as part of the SYNERGY project, a collaborative research project funded by NWO.

The SYNERGY project brings together a large consortium of researchers from multiple Dutch universities and knowledge institutes (Tilburg University, Eindhoven University of Technology, Utrecht University, University of Twente, Delft University of Technology, Avans University of Applied Sciences, TNO) and several societal partners (e.g., Province of Noord-Brabant, Tilburg Municipality, RVO, Enexis). Together, the consortium investigates the role of social dynamics in the energy transition.

Job description

Within the SYNERGY project, the PhD project will contribute to work package 2, “Decentralized energy systems and SMEs: governing energy hub platforms”. The transition to a decentralized, sustainable energy system depends on collective energy solutions involving groups of business end-users. One such solution is the energy hub, a smartly controlled, decentralized energy system established in a business park, where multiple companies coordinate the generation, storage, and consumption of renewable energy. To make this coordination possible, digital platforms play a crucial role. They connect the businesses within the hub to distributed energy resources, enabling energy sharing, reducing grid congestion, and enhancing sustainability.

Complete vacancy text see https://tiu.nu/22943

You will be supervised by Dr. Francesca Ciulli (Tilburg University), with co-supervision from Prof. Anna Wieczorek (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Dr. Christina Bidmon (Utrecht University).

As a PhD candidate, you will be embedded in the Department of Organization Studies at Tilburg University, where researchers examine the adaptiveness of organizations from a relational perspective, with sustainability and digitalization as key themes. In addition, you will be affiliated with the University-wide Academic Collaborative Center on Climate and Energy, which brings together researchers and societal partners to address challenges related to climate change and the energy transition. You will also regularly visit the co-supervisors’ institutions, i.e., Eindhoven University of Technology and Utrecht University.

You will have access to a wide network of academics, policymakers, and practitioners, and work in a supportive, inspiring, and collaborative research environment.

Your profile

For this position, we are looking for a researcher who:

  • For this position, we are looking for a researcher who:
  • has completed or is about to complete a relevant MSc. degree in Organization Studies, Management, Business Administration, Public Governance, Data Science, Innovation Science, Transition Studies, or a related discipline;
  • is interested in questions related to inter-organizational collaboration, coordination and governance;
  • has excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and at least good verbal and written communication skills in Dutch. For this position, proficiency in English at level C2 and in Dutch at least at level B2 is required (Europese taalniveaus CEFR. (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2);
  • has excellent qualitative research skills and data analytical abilities;
  • is eager to learn from and collaborate with researchers and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds;
  • is proactive, can work independently, and brings creativity and vision to their work;
  • has excellent project management and organization skills.

Knowledge in areas that are relevant to the PhD project (e.g., digitalization, energy transition, governance, inter-organizational collaboration) is an asset but not required.


Our offer:

For this position we offer you:

  • A position based on 1 FTE (40 hours per week).
  • A salary of €3,059 gross per month in the first year, up to €3,881 gross per month in the fourth year for full-time employment, based on UFO job profile PhD Candidate and salary scale P. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant education and work experience.
  • This is a vacancy for a temporary position following Article 2.3 paragraph 8 under b of the CLA DU. You will initially receive a temporary contract for 12 months to assess your suitability. If suitable, this contract will be followed by a new fixed-term contract of 36 months.
  • Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
  • Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
  • Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month).
  • Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
  • Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.
  • Budget for participation to academic conferences and trainings.
  • Moving allowance (subject to conditions).
  • Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable wages, we apply for this compensation for you;
  • A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
  • Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research, or a language course at our Language Center.
  • A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.
  • A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport.

Please visit working at Tilburg University for more information about our terms of employment.


Information and application

Would you like to know more before applying? Please feel free to contact dr. Francesca Ciulli (f.ciulli@tilburguniversity.edu).

We kindly invite you to apply before January 4, 2026; this can only be done online. Your application should include the following documents:

  • A letter of motivation explaining your motivation for doing a PhD, your interest in the position and research topic, as well as any experience related to the focus of the PhD (e.g., courses, focus of the MA thesis, internships).
  • Your CV. Please explicitly state your level of Dutch proficiency (CEFR) in your CV (minimum required level: B2).
  • Official grade list
  • MSc. thesis (along with another English writing sample if MSc. thesis is in Dutch)
  • Contact details of two referees (We only approach referees for candidates invited to the second round of interviews)

All documents should be in English (aside from the MSc. thesis if originally written in another language and a Dutch grade list).

Letter selection is scheduled on 6 January, 2026; you will receive notification from us shortly thereafter. The selection procedure consists of two rounds of interviews. The first-round interviews will be scheduled on 16 January 2026, per video call. The second-round interviews will be scheduled on 23 January 2026, preferably on campus at Tilburg University. The successful candidate would ideally be able to start working for Tilburg University on March 1, 2026.

The selection committee consists of:

  1. Francesca Ciulli, Associate Professor, Department of Organization Studies, Tilburg University
  2. Anna Wieczorek, Full Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology
  3. Christina Bidmon, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University
  4. Remco Mannak, Assistant Professor, Department of Organization Studies, Tilburg University