Postdoc Value-Based Governance of the Hydrogen Transition

Help shape the future hydrogen economy by exploring the dynamic values at play in this complex transition.

Job description

The hydrogen economy is gradually materializing. What are the underlying values shaping the transition to renewable ("green") hydrogen and how can the institutional and market embedding of new hydrogen systems take these values into account? Using qualitative methodologies (interviews, desk research, field observation, and exploratory workshops), the candidate will map and analyze the principal value trade-offs at stake in the hydrogen economy and advise stakeholders on a value-sensitive upscaling and implementation of hydrogen production, storage and transport. The candidate will employ system- and discourse-analytical tools, along with institutional analysis, to map values and analyze underlying value conflicts under conditions of normative uncertainty. This activity will deliver a critical, tailor-made analytical overview of the diverse and dynamic values at stake in the future hydrogen economy and assess the extent to which these values are addressed in existing or emerging hydrogen policy, laws, and regulations. The results will be presented in a report and paper(s) on dynamic values for the hydrogen transition.

Values will be understood in a pluralistic view as situated in, and interactive with, specific institutional, geographic, market and technological contexts. The development and integration of renewable hydrogen technologies should take this into account if the ideal of "hydrogen for good" is to be realized. Yet stakeholders lack the knowledge on the relevant values and the associated integration measures/policies. In developing context-specific standards for value judgment, attention will be given to tensions arising from close interactions between society, policy, academia, and industry, such as (a) divergent value interpretations and expectations, (b) value trade-offs complicating the (re)creation of appropriate rules of the game, and (c) formal and informal stakeholder involvement in rulemaking and the (re)creation of institutional arrangements when translating values into new ‘rules of the game’.

This postdoc position is funded under the HySUCCESS project, which is part of the R&D programme of GroenVermogenNL. You will work closely with other colleagues involved in GroenVermogen including Aad Correljé, Toyah Rodhouse, Eugen Popa and Udo Pesch. You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the Department of Ethics and Philosophy of Technology at TU Delft. Our faculty hosts a diverse group of people from different countries and disciplines, and we welcome candidates that contribute to and enjoy this diversity.

Correljé, A., Pesch, U., & Cuppen, E. (2022). Understanding Value Change in the Energy Transition: Exploring the Perspective of Original Institutional Economics. Science and Engineering Ethics, 28(6), 55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-022-00403-3

Popa, E. O., & Melnyk, A. (2025). Taking value conflicts seriously: Technological pluralism as an approach to hydrogen governance. Energy Strategy Reviews, 59, 101734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101734

Rodhouse, T. S. G. H., Cuppen, E. H. W. J., Correljé, A. F., & Pesch, U. (2024). A new carrier for old assumptions? Imagined publics and their justice implications for hydrogen development in the Netherlands. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 204, 123412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123412

 Job requirements 

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher who combines an interdisciplinary background with strong collaboration and analytical skills.

The candidates with the following background and qualities are particularly encouraged to apply:

• A PhD in Energy Policy, Science and Technology Studies, Policy Sciences (including Political Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Discourse Analysis, Policy Analysis), Urban Studies, Organization and Management Studies, or another relevant interdisciplinary specialization.
• Experience with and enthusiasm for combining moral/political questions and technical knowledge of the hydrogen economy or energy transition more generally.
• Acquaintance with the energy system is considered an advantage.
• Experience in collaborating with researchers, practitioners and decision-makers who have diverse organizational and disciplinary backgrounds.
• Strong analytical skills combined with a creative and innovative approach.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.
• Functional command of Dutch is an advantage.

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 2 years Temporary
• A job of 30-40 hours per week. 
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch 
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Eugen Popa, O.E.Popa@tudelft.nl.
For further information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR Advisor, recruitment-tbm@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 17 October 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Udo Pesch.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.