Doctoral researcher in sustainable decision-making and behavior change

2025-05-23

As a humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university, Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary cooperation, transdisciplinary cooperation with practice and an overall dynamic development characterise its research profile in the core topics of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability and state. Its international study model with the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has won many awards.

The University is looking for a responsible, motivated and committed person for the newly founded research group “Psychology of Collective Action and Sustainability” at the Institute for Sustainability Psychology (ISP) as soon as possible.

Doctoral researcher in sustainable decision-making and behavior change
(salary group EG 13 TV-L, 75%, 4 years; fixed-term)

The research group “Psychology of Collective Action and Sustainability” led by Prof. Dr. Ulf Hahnel examines human judgment and decision-making in the context of global climate change and the energy transition. Our research is grounded in theory and experimental methodology from psychological science and behavioural economics and seeks to build a deeper understanding of sustainable collective and individual behaviour. Moreover, we strive to develop evidence-based interventions to promote more sustainable actions worldwide. Given climate change's global and dynamic nature, we collect experimental data across high- and lower-income countries and time. To transfer these findings from the level of individual decisions to the system level, the team is applying and developing interdisciplinary methodology to better integrate behavioral and decision-making data into system and climate models (including Agent-Based Models, Integrated Assessment Models). We work with various academic disciplines, policymakers, and stakeholders to account for the multidimensional complexity of environmental issues and to transfer our research into practice.

Our research group is seeking a doctoral researcher to work on the intersection of psychology and sustainability, with a focus on the psychological and contextual drivers of and barriers to sustainable behaviour. The position involves planning, designing, and analysing of experimental studies to examine sustainable behaviour change and its underlying mechanisms across various regions and national contexts. A key aspect of the position includes developing and validating theory-informed interventions to promote more sustainable actions – e.g., by incorporating novel tools such as AI-driven dialogues. Teaching responsibilities include 1 1/2 courses per week during the semester (3 SWS) in English or German.

Your tasks:

Design large-scale experimental online studies to examine judgments and decisions in the climate and energy domain
Coordinate with researchers from various scientific disciplines and international regions
Analyze multilevel cross-national/regional (experimental) data
Couple psychological data with regional economic, policy, and ecological data
Write scientific articles in collaboration with international experts
Contribute to the supervision of bachelor and master students
Engage in teaching (1 1/2 courses per semester, 3 SWS)

Your profile:

Master’s degree in psychology or related disciplines
Excellent methodological and statistical skills (using R preferably)
Experience in (experimental) data collection
Interest in pursuing a scientific career
Strong interest in human behavior and sustainability topics
Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment
Excellent oral and written skills in English

We offer:

a large interdisciplinary and international network
Comprehensive doctoral training programs
Additional funding for conference travel and education
a unique research hub on the psychology of sustainability, embedded within one of the very few Faculties of Sustainability worldwide.
an inspiring working environment as part of the university community of researchers, teachers, students and staff in technology and administration,
a workplace at one of the most beautiful university locations in Germany in a true campus university with an internationally acclaimed central building by Daniel Libeskind and the directly adjacent Wilschenbruch nature reserve,
a high level of job security as part of the public service,
an additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL),
flexible and family-friendly working hours within a flexitime framework from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
flexible and family-friendly opportunities to alternate between presence work and mobile work,
an extensive internal and external continuing education programme,
a wide range of sporting activities sponsored by the university, which employees can take part in for one hour per week during working hours to promote their health,
a university-sponsored catering service for lunch and dinner in the refectory,
a Germany ticket sponsored by the university as a job ticket

Your application:

Leuphana University of Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and heterogeneity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications. Please also note our data protection information for applicants.

We look forward to receiving your application. Please send it with all the usual documents (cover letter, CV without photo, relevant certifications/transcript of grades, a sample of academic writing (e.g., master thesis), one letter of recommendation) by June 29, 2025 digitally (summarized in a PDF file) or by post to:

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Human Resources and Legal Affairs / Application Management
Kennwort: Collective Action PhD
Universitätsallee 1
21335 Lüneburg
jobs@leuphana.de cc: ulf.hahnel@leuphana.de

For further information please contact Prof. Ulf Hahnel (ulf.hahnel@leuphana.de).