PhD: Developmental Dynamics of Climate Anxiety and Climate Hope Among Youth

25 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Utrecht University

Research Field

Cultural studies

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

24 Mar 2024 – 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Climate anxiety is a prevalent negative emotion that might increase but also reduce pro-environmental behaviour. Positive emotions like climate hope may also play a significant role in understanding pro-environmental engagement and may also buffer against mental health problems. However, how these emotions develop, their origins and linkages with pro-environmental engagement and mental health across adolescence into young adulthood are not well understood.

Your job
This PhD project applies an interdisciplinary and longitudinal approach to investigate emotional responses of Dutch youth (12-25 years) to the climate crisis, particularly climate anxiety and climate hope, and their relations with pro-environmental behaviour and mental health. This project has the following objectives:

map the development of climate anxiety and climate hope among Dutch youth;

investigate the dynamic associations between climate anxiety and climate hope on the one hand and perceived climate change threat, efficacy beliefs, and pro-environmental identity on the other hand;

uncover the dynamic interplay between climate anxiety, climate hope and pro-environmental engagement and mental health among Dutch youth.

Your main responsibilities are to co-design and conduct research to address the objectives, analyse data, and disseminate research findings to the scientific community and other stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators). This will be done in close collaboration with an interdisciplinary team.

This PhD project will be embedded in the Youth Studies (Interdisciplinary Social Science) and Youth and Family (Education and Pedagogy) research programmes at Utrecht University. The interdisciplinary advisory team consists of Dr Anouk Smeekes and Dr Andrik Becht (daily advisors), and Professor Susan Branje and Professor Catrin Finkenauer (promotors). The position includes 10% teaching tasks, with the possibility to extend to 20%.

Requirements
Specific Requirements

We are looking for a colleague who thrives in a collaborative environment that also asks for autonomy, and holds a proactive, mastery-oriented approach to one’s learning process. The candidate must bring multiple of the following qualifications:

• You have an (almost finished) (research) Master’s degree in the field of Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Pedagogics, or a neighboring discipline.
• You have demonstrated research and writing skills.
• You have well-developed (longitudinal data) analytical skills, and you are preferably acquainted with Mplus and/or R.
• You are able to work in a team while maintaining autonomy.
• You are able to work well-organised and flexible, and you have affinity with data collection.
• You can work analytical, curious, and self-motivated, and you enjoy interdisciplinary collaborations across scientific fields.
• Proficiency in Dutch is preferrable, but not required.

Additional Information
Benefits

We offer:

• a position in a collaborative, social and dedicated team, with guidance in your research and teaching tasks, which will help you develop your academic career;
• a contract for one year – after a positive evaluation, it will be extended with three years;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,770 and €3,539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development , leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

Selection process

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button below.

Interviews will take place on 8 April (first round) and 23 April (second round).

Additional comments

For additional information, please contact Dr Anouk Smeekes at [email protected] or Dr Andrik Becht at [email protected] .

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/338222/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universiteit Utrecht

Country

Netherlands

City

Utrecht

Postal Code

3584CH

Street

Padualaan 14

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/338222/phd-developmental-dynamics-of-climat…

Contact

City

Utrecht

Website

http://www.uu.nl/

Street

Domplein 29

Postal Code

3512 JE

STATUS: EXPIRED