PhD Behavior change strategies for achieving a plastic free Wadden region

Job description

The PhD Project

Are you passionate about tackling environmental challenges and making a tangible societal impact? The interdisciplinary project ‘Wad gaat om’ aims to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution in the Wadden region, a problem often overlooked despite its local importance. We are looking for a PhD candidate who will develop innovative, evidence-based behavior change interventions in collaboration with diverse partners and stakeholders, contributing not only to academic output but also to visible societal change.

The PhD project is part of the “Wad Gaat Om” program, which aims to sustainably reduce plastic waste and usage in the Wadden Sea area through a systems approach. The program addresses the plastic issue holistically by focusing on prevention such as reducing plastic use, waste introduction, promoting biobased alternatives, mitigation including proper disposal, collection, and upcycling of plastic. To achieve these goals, it is crucial that, among other things, individuals, such as tourists, the local population, and key decision-makers, become aware of the plastic problem in the Wadden region and change their behavior accordingly. In this project, you will conduct problem analyses through a literature review, surveys and interviews, develop effective behavior change interventions for the prevention and mitigation of plastic waste, and evaluate the impact of these interventions.

Your tasks as a PhD candidate are

• Developing and conducting three or four different research projects.
• Presenting and discussing research results through papers in various national and international meetings and conferences.
• Actively collaborating with partners and stakeholders within and outside the project.
• Writing and defending a PhD thesis within four years.
• Possibility to carry out a (limited) number of teaching tasks as part of the program.

In the context of this project, the theme of sustainable behavior change is central. The following questions provide an indication of the directions in which the PhD project can develop and of the potential sub-projects within this research. These are suggestions; you do not need to limit yourself to this research direction. What motivates tourists and the local population to engage in plastic-reducing behaviors? How can these behaviors and the adoption of sustainable alternatives be promoted? What barriers do decision-makers perceive in implementing policies to reduce plastic in the Wadden region? This PhD project offers a unique opportunity (if desired) to employ a creative and innovative approach, exploring out-of-the-box behavior change strategies in cooperation with project partners. The successful candidate will work within an inter- and transdisciplinary team, collaborating with partners and stakeholders inside and outside the project, including but not limited to Rijkswaterstaat, MerkFryslân, and organizations in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Dr Josefine Geiger en Dr Elena Cavagnaro will be the supervisors of this project, situated in Leeuwarden (Faculty Campus Fryslân).

Organisation

The University of Groningen has an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 34,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, we are truly an international place of knowledge.

Campus Fryslân is the ambitious eleventh and newest faculty of the University of Groningen, located in Leeuwarden. Campus Fryslân is an interdisciplinary faculty that works closely together with regional, national and international partners on worldwide (sustainability) challenges and local solutions. The sustainable development goals of the United Nations thus serve as an important guideline.

Qualifications

• A (Research) Master's degree in a relevant area, such as Environmental or Social Psychology, Communication and Information Science, or a related discipline.
• Fluency in spoken English and Dutch, along with experience in academic writing in English.
• Demonstrated quantitative research skills, with experience in developing and testing behavior change interventions as an advantage.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Initiative, flexibility, and structured thinking, combined with effective communication and networking skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Organisation

Conditions of employment

In accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, the University of Groningen offers you:

• A salary of € 2,901 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,707 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position
• A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income.
• An 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.
• A temporary 1.0 FTE appointment for a specified period of four years. The candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After nine months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the contract period is to be expected. The PhD candidate is expected to teach a maximum of 350 hours per year. The PhD candidate is expected to teach during the first and second year of their appointment for up to max. 350 hours per year, based on a full time contract.
• A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of the Faculty. As part of the program, the PhD researcher will take part in the Career Perspectives Series, which provides a thorough preparation on the career after the PhD, inside or outside academia. During the course of the doctorate, the PhD researcher will develop research and teaching competencies as well as leadership skills. For this, the PhD researcher will receive a tailor-made programme from the GSCF.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Willingness to move and reside in The Netherlands.

The appointment will commence as soon as possible. In case of VISA application, we need at least three months to complete the administrative process after the selection phase.