Nanovip All things Nanotechnology – Nano Is The Futiure
The primary objective of this PhD project is to increase our knowledge on consumer attitudes towards nanotechnology. Whereas nanotechnology is rapidly becoming a topic of intense societal debate, consumer attitudes are not yet formed.
As has been the case with other technologies, such as genetic modification, consumer attitudes towards nanotechnology are likely to influence the success or otherwise of different applications of nanotechnology. We are looking for a Phd who is interested in understanding how consumer attitudes towards emerging technologies such as nanotechnology are formed and develop over time.
The PhD candidate will be closely collaborating with a postdoctoral researcher in a 4 years, Dutch government financed project on societal responses to nanotechnology. You will be working within the Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group (MCB) of the Social Sciences Department of Wageningen University. MCB has a strong reputation in methodologically underpinned research focused on society and technology. The supervisors have experience with developing and applying experimental approaches to understanding citizen and consumer responses to technology.
It is our aim to be a key player in the investigation of societal responses to nanotechnology and to develop cutting edge knowledge regarding prediction of societal responses to new technologies. It is expected this research will deliver several high quality papers in scientific journals.
Requirements
You should have a M.Sc. diploma in one of the social sciences, preferably social psychology. Experience with both qualitative and quantitative methodology is highly appreciated. You will be motivated to study consumer attitudes towards nanotechnology. The successful candidate is enthusiastic about working in a multidisciplinary environment. Advanced knowledge of Dutch and English both reading and writing is required.
Conditions of employment
A PhD position for a period of 18 months, extended with another 30 months upon favourable evaluation. Gross salary will increase from € 2042 per month in the first year up to € 2612 per month in the last year based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week). In addition, we offer a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-the-year bonus of 8.3% of your annual salary.
The supervision of this project will be managed by Prof Dr Hans van Trijp, Dr. Arnout Fischer and Dr. Heleen van Dijk (who will be the postdoctoral researcher in the project). For more information about the post, please contact Heleen van Dijk (Heleen.vandijk@wur.nl). Please do not use this e-mail address to apply. Only applications sent to our website can be taken into consideration.
Interested? Apply now via http://www.jobsat.wur.nl before November 10th 2010. The interviews will be on Wednesday the 17th of November.