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Department
Faculty of Law
Organisation
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, University of Groningen, V25.0436
Job description
The University of Groningen invites applications for a post-doctoral researcher position (32 months). This position is part of the project “HyTROS – Hydrogen Transport, Offshore and Storage”, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) programme GroenvermogenNL.
In Europe, the Netherlands ranks as the second-largest hydrogen producer. As it stands, the vast majority of hydrogen is sourced from fossil fuels. The Netherlands is aiming to reach 4GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030. Key questions around scaling up green hydrogen production centre on whether the existing onshore and offshore natural gas system can be repurposed for hydrogen, where new assets are required, and how to ensure the new energy system operates safely, cost-effectively, and with public support. This calls for further research into hydrogen production, transport, and storage across the entire hydrogen value chain.
The HyTROS project answers this call by providing a platform for applied research into the transport and storage of hydrogen, while driving further development. Comprising thirty-two research and industry partners, HyTROS seeks to fast-track the scaling up of green hydrogen in the Netherlands.
For the establishment of a strong and safe hydrogen infrastructure, it is particularly relevant to develop practitioners-oriented technical safety standards. This may include best or recommended practices, protocols, and guidelines for supporting practitioners working on the development of hydrogen infrastructure and storage. Also new or modified NEN-, EN- or ISO-standards could be the result of this activity. It is highly recommended by industry to standardize the outcome into NEN-, EN- or ISO-standards. For more operational aspects, PGS (publicatiereeks gevaarlijke stoffen) could be considered to be amended or new publication could be requested, To achieve these results, there will be assessments towards applicable existing technical safety standards based on the regulatory framework to mitigate risk to have higher requirements then the legislator has defined, leading to recommendations and decisions if new technical safety standards are to be developed or existing ones need to be updated. Execution of these activities will take place in a multi-stakeholder setting to achieve a broad level of acceptance of technical safety standards. RUG facilitates this action by means of creating this multi-stakeholder focus group composed by, in particular Gasunie, EBN and Netbeheer Nederland.
Organisation
Since its founding in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education, offering high-quality teaching and research. We encourage the 34,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Among the best research universities in Europe, we join forces with prestigious partner universities and networks around the world, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.
The Faculty of Law (https://www.rug.nl/rechten/) is building on a longstanding tradition of four centuries of quality legal research. It is an ambitious top-ranking faculty of law with both high-quality education and research, with a strong international orientation, firmly rooted in the North of The Netherlands. The faculty creates and shares knowledge through outstanding education and research, benefitting society. With more than 4000 students and 350 staff the faculty is heavily involved in educating students, both Dutch and international. The faculty is a modern, broad and international institution, educating students to become forward-looking, articulate and independent lawyers.
The Postdoc will be integrated in the Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Sustainability (GCELS). GCELS brings together expertise from all branches of law within the Faculty of Law of the University of Groningen to develop cutting-edge research and educational programmes relevant for the energy transition. Its research covers the entire energy chain as well the transitions necessary to move towards a more sustainable society.
This includes all legislation and regulation applying to the production, transport, storage and supply of energy, the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, the need to secure energy supply, as well as climate action and environmental protection.
Requirements
We are looking for an early-career scholar who has a strong research record, and is interested in studying the effects of public participation in decision making on public acceptability of renewable energy policies and projects.
We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
- a PhD degree in Energy Law;
- a relevant publication record demonstrating your ability to publish international academic publications, preferably in top tier peer-reviewed journals;
- experience with theory driven research with a clear eye for practical implications;
- a clear interest in collaborative interdisciplinary research;
- the ability to manage collaborations with partners outside academia (e.g. local governments, businesses);
- the ability to communicate verbally and in written form in English;
- ability to work independently and manage joint research activities;
- a team player with good communication skills.
Conditions of employment
Contract length: 32 months.
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:
- a starting salary of € 4,241 gross per month (salary scale 10 step 4)
- excellent secondary terms of employment
- a fulltime position
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- 232 holiday hours per calendar year for full time employment
- participation in a pension scheme for employees.
The appointment is temporary for a specified period of 32 months. The preferred starting date is the 1st of October 2025.
Job Application
Do you meet our qualification criteria? If yes, you’re requested to upload the following documents: - a motivation letter stating your motivation to apply for the position and your key qualities relevant for this position; - an up-to-date curriculum vitae; - contact information of two academic references. You may apply for this position until August 26, 2025, 11:59pm Dutch local time by means of the electronic application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Interviews are scheduled on August 28 2025. The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/ Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Additional information
For additional information, please contact:
Prof. dr. Lorenzo Squintani
[email protected]
In your application, please always include the job opening ID V25.0436
