As a postdoctoral researcher, you will lead the development and validation of synthetic but realistic social network models that can be used for diffusion and intervention simulations under privacy constraints. You will translate CBS microdata structures into reusable network-generation methods, quantify how aggregation choices affect predicted tipping dynamics, and deliver robust software and methodological guidance that can be reused beyond the Dutch context. There is flexibility for the research activities within the project beyond the synthetic network creation. You are expected to take an active role in departmental activities, ranging from organizing seminars and group activities and stakeholder workshops to contributing to collaborative papers and grants.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The list of tasks is not exhaustive and covers some aspects of the project that may or may not be taken by the Postdoc. If there are sets of skills that you already have or would like to develop or a topic that you are particularly interested, please mention those in your motivation.

• Derive behavioural models from individual-level data
• Develop mean-field, agent-based, and network-based models of collective behaviour adoption with heterogeneous preferences and reversible dynamics
• Link individual-level factors (e.g., costs, norms, infrastructure, trust) to adoption outcomes in the domains of technology adoption (e.g., solar PV) and/or daily behavioural choices
• Develop privacy-sensitive synthetic network generation methods (multi-layer social networks, demographic/spatial structure) compatible with CBS secure environments
• Define validation criteria for when is a synthetic network is “fit for purpose” for diffusion and intervention analysis
• Integrate network generators with agent-based / diffusion models developed within ROOTS
• Produce well-documented, reusable software and reproducible pipelines (open where permitted)
• Contribute to the design and analysis of discrete-choice (conjoint) experiments and survey measures that parameterize and validate the models
• Contribute to partner-facing demonstrations and workshops (e.g., with CBS and other ROOTS partners)
• Support the development of behavioural models from individual-level data.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals
• Present at international conferences
• Participate in team activities at CSL and POLDER/IAS (workshops, seminars) and contribute to collaborative papers
• Assist in teaching and supervision (e.g., tutorials, MSc/BSc projects) in consultation with the group within the programmes MSc Computational Science and MSc Complex Systems and Policy
• Co-supervise projects aligned with the modelling/software work.

• A completed PhD in network science, computational social science, statistics, computer science, physics, applied mathematics, or a closely related field
• You can translate messy real-world questions into clear model assumptions and testable mechanisms
• Demonstrable experience with quantitative analysis and programming (e.g., Python and/or R)
• You communicate clearly in spoken and written English and can write publishable academic texts
• You collaborate well in an interdisciplinary team and can work carefully under privacy/security constraints
• It is a preference if you additionally have experience with synthetic data, multilayer networks, secure data environments (e.g., CBS Remote Access), diffusion/agent-based modelling, discrete-choice modelling, complex contagion/threshold models, computational economics, causal discovery, and/or simulation-based inference.

We offer a temporary employment contract for 30 – 38 hours per week for a period of 12 months with a probationary period of two months. Extending to 38 hours is possible if additional teaching responsibilities can be found. If we assess your performance positive, we will extend your contract with 12 months to a total duration of 24 months. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2026, but it can be discussed.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,546 to € 5,538 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Researcher 4 is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here.