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Tilburg University | Tilburg Law School


is looking for a postdoctoral researcher for the project:


Social dynamics in the energy transition


School and Department: Tilburg Law School, Department of Public Law and Governance

Location: Tilburg

Job profile: Postdoctoral researcher

Contract size: 0.8-1.0 fte (32-40 hours per week)

Contract duration: 2 years

Monthly full-time salary: € 4,728-€6,433 gross

Starting date: February 1, 2026


Energy transitions are essential to achieving net-zero emissions and keeping our planet within its safe operating space. Yet, these transitions are deeply shaped by social dynamics, by how people cooperate, organize, and sometimes resist change.

Are you eager to explore the role of such social dynamics, drawing on insights from multiple disciplines? Are you curious about what we can learn from energy-related interactions in different contexts, from households and local energy communities to regional energy hubs?

If so, this postdoctoral position offers an exciting opportunity to investigate these questions within the SYNERGY project, a collaborative research initiative funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) under the National Science Agenda (NWA).

The SYNERGY project unites a broad consortium of researchers from leading Dutch universities and knowledge institutes (including Tilburg University, Utrecht University, University of Twente, Eindhoven University of Technology, Delft University of Technology, Avans University of Applied Sciences, and TNO), as well as societal partners (such as the Province of Noord-Brabant, the Municipality of Tilburg, RVO, and Enexis).

Together, this consortium examines how social dynamics shape the energy transition, aiming both to advance scientific understanding and to generate practical insights for policymakers and practitioners.


Job description

Within the SYNERGY project, you will contribute to both conceptual and comparative research, helping to guide and integrate the work carried out across the project’s various work packages. More specifically, you will help establish a shared conceptual foundation for these work packages and perform analyses that cut across the project as a whole.

Your main tasks will include:

  1. Conducting conceptual and comparative qualitative case study research, including a literature review, interviews, and/or focus groups;
  2. Writing one or more high-quality scientific papers on the project’s guiding framework and cross-cutting analyses, for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
  3. Preparing one or more practitioner-oriented memos that translate scientific insights into actionable recommendations;
  4. Organizing workshops within the SYNERGY project to bring together academics and practitioners for discussion of draft papers and memos;
  5. Coordinating co-creation processes and knowledge exchange activities with both academic and non-academic partners;
  6. Actively participating in consortium meetings, workshops, and other collaborative research activities;
  7. Presenting preliminary results and papers at academic conferences;
  8. Contributing to the activities of both the Department of Public Law and Governance at Tilburg Law School and the university-wide Academic Collaborative Center for Climate and Energy at Tilburg University.


You will be supervised by Prof. dr. Martijn Groenleer (Tilburg University), with Prof. dr. Thomas Hoppe (University of Twente) as co-supervisor.

Collaboration lies at the heart of this position: you will work closely with fellow researchers as well as societal partners and external stakeholders across different work packages, bridging the gap between academia and practice.

This position is embedded within both the Department of Public Law and Governance at Tilburg Law School, where legal and governance scholars collaborate on innovations and transformations in public law and governance, and the university-wide Academic Collaborative Center on Climate and Energy, which brings together multiple disciplines across the university and societal partners to contribute theoretical knowledge and practical solutions for a socially just energy transition.

Being part of this broad network of scholars and practitioners offers a unique opportunity to combine cutting-edge academic research with tangible societal impact, helping to shape the social dynamics that drive the energy transition.

Your profile

Below, we outline our expectations of the candidate. We are aware that no candidate may fully meet all requirements. We therefore invite candidates to indicate in their motivation letter not only which requirements they meet, but also which ones they would like to develop further.


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

  • Holds (or is close to completing) a PhD in Public Administration, Public Governance, Policy Sciences, Political Science, Economics, Management, Sociology, Organization Studies, or a related field in the social sciences.
  • Has demonstrable knowledge of or expertise in scientific research related to energy transitions, climate change or sustainability;
  • Possesses strong qualitative research skills and data analytical abilities.
  • Thrives in collaboration, seamlessly working with both academic peers and external partners.
  • Communicates effectively, presenting ideas clearly and engaging with diverse audiences.
  • Is fluent in Dutch and English, both verbally and in writing.
  • Is proactive, independent, and creative, with a vision for innovative research.
  • Has excellent project management and organization skills.
  • Wants to contribute to Tilburg University’s dynamic research community on climate and energy and help build an inspiring work environment.


Our offer

For this position we offer you:

  • A position based on 0.8 - 1.0 fte (32-40 hours per week).
  • A salary of minimum € 4,728 and maximum €6,433 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3 and salary scale 11. Until obtaining your PhD, salary scale 10 will be applied. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
  • This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 sub b CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 24 months.
  • Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
  • Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
  • The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
  • Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
  • A monthly internet allowance of €25.
  • An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.
  • A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
  • Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary.
  • 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.


For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.


Information and application

Would you like to know more before applying? Please feel free to contact Prof. dr. Martijn Groenleer (m.l.p.groenleer@tilburguniversity.edu).


We kindly invite you to apply before January 5; this can only be done online.


Your application should include the following documents:

  • A letter explaining your motivation for doing a postdoc, your interest in the position and in the research topic, as well as your competence in the research field;
  • Your CV including academic qualifications, relevant knowledge, relevant experience, list of publications and contact details of two referees (we only approach referees for candidates invited to the second round of interviews).
  • A writing sample, for example a forthcoming paper or a chapter from your PhD thesis.


All documents should be in English.


We review applications on a rolling basis. You will receive a notification from us shortly after your application has been submitted.


The selection procedure consists of two rounds of interviews. The first interviews will be scheduled in the week of January 12, 2025, per video call.


The successful candidate would ideally be able to start working for Tilburg University on February 1, 2026.


The selection committee tentatively consists of:

  1. Martijn Groenleer, Full Professor, Department of Public Law and Governance, Tilburg University
  2. Thomas Hoppe, Full Professor, Department of Technology, Policy and Society, University of Twente
  3. Francesca Ciulli, Associate Professor, Department of Organization Studies, Tilburg University
  4. Michiel Bron, Postdoc, Department of Public Law and Governance, Tilburg University


This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and externally. In case of equal suitability, our preference is for an internal candidate.


About Tilburg Law School

Tilburg Law School was founded in 1963 and has since grown into a leading faculty for law and public administration. Our education and research are distinctly innovative and interdisciplinary. We are driven by our mission to actively engage with pressing societal challenges such as new technologies, sustainability, and the position of vulnerable groups in the rule of law, from the perspective of legal and administrative sciences. We operate in response to local, regional, national, and international developments, and collaborate closely with other disciplines such as economics, behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, history, and digital sciences. The faculty is organized into five departments: Public Law & Governance, Private, Business and Labour Law, Criminal Law, the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology & Society, and Tax Law.