Postdoctoral 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.

Postdoctoral researcher in sustainable decision-making and behavior change
(salary group EG 13 TV-L, 100%, 3 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 and collective 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 postdoctoral researcher to work on the intersection of psychology and sustainability to study the psychological and contextual determinants of sustainable behavior. The position involves analysing large datasets and coupling psychological data with objective behavioral data sources (e.g., high-resolution mobility data). While the primary work location will be Lüneburg, Germany, the project will be conducted in close collaboration with Dr. Kristian S. Nielsen (Copenhagen Business School) and Dr. Vedran Sekara (IT University of Denmark) and will provide the opportunity for research exchanges in Copenhagen, Denmark. Additionally, the position offers the opportunity to engage in PhD supervision. Teaching responsibilities include two courses per week during the semester (4 SWS) in English or German. Prolongation for additional 2 years is possible in principle.

Your tasks:

Design large-scale experimental online studies to examine judgments and decisions in the climate and energy domain
Couple online experimental data with big datasets, e.g., on high resolution mobility data
Take on a leading role in the coordination of the project, including researchers from various scientific disciplines
Analyze multilevel cross-national/regional (experimental) data
Write scientific articles in collaboration with international experts
Contribute to the supervision of doctoral and master students
Engage in teaching (2 courses per semester, 4 SWS)

Your profile:

Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., psychology, behavioral economics, social data science)
Promising publication record
Excellent methodological and statistical skills (using R, Python)
Experience in handling complex datasets
Experience in (experimental) data collection
Strong interest in human behavior and sustainability topics
Previous experience with cross-cultural research and/or cognitive modeling approaches is a plus
Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment
Excellent oral and written skills in English

We offer:

a large interdisciplinary and international network
comprehensive training programs
additional funding for conference travel and education
an 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
The position is basically suitable for part-time work, but the aim is to fill it 100 per cent.

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 (i.e., transcript of grades), most important previous publication/preprint, one letter of recommendation, and the names of two additional references) by June 29, 2025 digitally to (summarized in a PDF file) or by post to:

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Human Resources and Legal Affairs / Application Management
Kennwort: Collective Action PD
Universitätsallee 1
21335 Lüneburg

job@leuphana.de cc: ulf.hahnel@leuphana.de

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