PostDoc Position in Project on Regional Energy Transitions

The Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg’s Institute of Social Sciences is offering for the duration of four years (with a possible extension for another year) a position as Post-doctoral researcher full-time (39.8 hours/week), payment group 14 of the General Framework Agreement on Public Services in the Federal States of Germany (TV-L), at the earliest possible date, in the DFG-Emmy-Noether-project Regional Energy Transition: The social processes of negotiating, norming and learning in the wind energy sector.

The project will analyse energy transition as a social process from a socio-economic perspective. It will examine how different regional, national and global actors in the wind energy sector interact, and which processes of negotiating, norming and learning are triggered by this interaction. Besides theoretical-conceptual work, the project will focus on an empirical substantiation of the transition debate. Six case studies based on expert interviews will be carried out, supplemented by participatory observations, focus group workshops and potentially QCA.

The post-doctoral researcher will support the project leader in the scientific coordination of the case studies and the project. He/she will provide a meaningful contribution to the theory development, enhance project publications and keep an eye on the organizational and content issues of the project. The person will also be operatively involved in the empirical study. This includes, among others, the preparation, execution and analysis of narrative interviews. Two further researchers will be part of the project. Additional information can be found at https://www.uni-oldenburg.de/en/sociologyofeuropeansocieties/research/regional-energy-transition/.

Requirements:

• a project-relevant, above-average doctorate. The project draws upon various scientific debates, especially innovation research/science and technology studies, organisational sociology, economic geography and transition research. Knowledge of innovation, STS and organisational sociology are central for the position.
• an above-average academic degree (diploma or master) in a relevant field (social/economic/regional sciences, sustainability transitions);
• a major field of study or other acquired knowledge regarding the project context (e.g. transition research, innovation research, regional change and/or wind energy);
• advanced methodological skills, experience with interview and case study research, qualitative content analysis software (MaxQDA) and/or QCA would be an advantage;
• a self-reliant, goal- and result-oriented work mode and scientific mindset;
• proficiency of English. Knowledge of German is desirable; otherwise, the candidate should at least be willing to learn German in the course of the project.

The holder of the position will have the opportunity to work on his/her own further qualification (habilitation) on topics related to the research project.

The University of Oldenburg is an equal opportunities employer. According to § 21 para. 3 of the Legislation Governing Higher Education in Lower Saxony (NHG) preference shall be given to female candidates in cases of equal qualification. The same applies to persons with disabilities.

Please send your application including a scientific writing sample (e.g. scientific article), preferably by e-mail in a single pdf document to sozialstruktur@uol.de, or by letter to Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Fakultät I, Institut für Sozialwissenschaften, Prof. Dr. Jannika Mattes, D – 26111 Oldenburg, Germany. Keyword: 2017-03-Regional-Energy. If you require any further information, please contact Mrs Mattes via e-mail at jannika.mattes [at] uol.de or via telephone (+49 441 7984552).

Please do not send us any folders or originals, as applications delivered by mail cannot be returned. The closing date for this application is 14 January 2018.

N.B. The German version of this advertisement, which is legally binding, may be found at http://uni-ol.de/stellen/65776.

This English version is for information only.