Research Associate / PhD Position “Modelling and Simulation of Opinion Dynamics” in the DFG/NWO project ECHO

About us

What if we could anticipate whether a planned wind farm will meet with support or resistance in a region, and which forms of public participation can reopen a deadlocked debate? We could then shape the energy transition with foresight, not only technically but also socially.

We are still far from that. Whether households install a heat pump, municipalities accept a wind farm or consumers adjust their electricity use depends on attitudes that form in exchange with others. Such opinions can shift, harden or polarise quickly in social networks. Energy system models, however, still mostly treat them as fixed assumptions.

In the newly funded project “ECHO: Energy Transition, Collective Dynamics and Human Opinions in Agent Networks”, this is set to change. To this end, it develops agent networks in which agents based on large language models (LLMs) form, exchange and revise opinions. Unlike classical opinion dynamics models, these agents can argue in natural language and respond to real-world discourse. The project combines them with network analysis and empirical data from public discourse, surveys and participation processes. The results will show under which conditions public support for technologies, infrastructure and behavioural change grows or erodes. You will work on a question that computer science, energy research and the social sciences have rarely tackled together.

The project is jointly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The partners are the University of Oldenburg (Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lehnhoff) and the University of Groningen (Prof. Dr. Andreas Flache, Department of Sociology). Andreas Flache is an internationally recognised expert on polarisation and opinion dynamics. His group “Norms and Networks” combines agent-based modelling with experiments, network and survey research and is part of the ICS graduate school. Oldenburg and Groningen are only about two hours apart. Joint workshops, mutual research stays and close exchange between both teams are an integral part of the project.

In Oldenburg, you will join the energy informatics community at the Department of Computing Science and work closely with the Energy division of the OFFIS Institute for Information Technology, where research on digitalised energy systems ranges from fundamental work to application.

This position is part of the ECHO project and focuses on modelling and simulation: which mechanisms produce consensus, polarisation or tipping points in opinion formation on the energy transition? In parallel, we are filling a second PhD position focusing on the analysis of empirical data. Both positions work closely together, so that models can be tested directly against data and data can be analysed with the help of models.

Your tasks

• Independent research within the ECHO project towards a PhD
• Developing LLM-based agent networks and agent-based models of opinion dynamics, including network science and coupling with energy system models
• Simulation studies on the conditions under which consensus, polarisation or tipping points emerge
• Close collaboration with the parallel PhD position (focus: data and empirical research) and the partner team in Groningen, including research stays, joint workshops and joint publications
• Publishing and presenting results in leading international journals and at conferences
• Supporting the topic in the Department's English-taught programmes, e.g. the Master's programme Digitalized Energy Systems: contributing to tutorials, seminars and project groups
• Co-supervising student theses in the field
• Contributing to project organisation and science communication

Your profile

Required / Prerequisites for employment

• A completed academic university degree (Master's or equivalent) in computer science, physics, mathematics, environmental modelling or a related field
• Experience in programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, R or Julia)
• Excellent written and spoken English (English is the working and teaching language)
• Motivation to pursue a PhD and enjoyment of interdisciplinary collaboration

Desirable / Advantageous

• Experience with agent-based modelling, multi-agent systems or the simulation of complex systems
• Knowledge of network science or models of opinion dynamics
• Solid programming skills, ideally in the simulation of complex systems
• Interest in energy systems and the societal questions of the energy transition
• First teaching experience, e.g. as a teaching assistant
• German or Dutch language skills 

We offer

• A socially relevant research topic bridging computer science, energy systems research and the social sciences
• A binational team with supervision in Oldenburg and Groningen and research stays with the “Norms and Networks” group in Groningen
• Close collaboration with a second PhD position with complementary methodological strengths
• Integration into Oldenburg's energy informatics community and the OFFIS Energy division, with extensive contacts in research and practice
• Teaching experience in an international, English-language study environment
• Participation in international conferences and summer schools
• Salary according to the collective agreement (annual bonus, company pension scheme, capital-forming benefits) and 30 days of annual leave
• Flexible working hours, partial remote work and a family-friendly environment
• A comprehensive continuing education programme and the graduate academy OLTECH (https://uol.de/en/oltech)
• Oldenburg: a cycling city with short distances, close to the North Sea and the Netherlands

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.

Further information

Employment start date is as soon as possible, but no later than February 1, 2027.

The opportunity to pursue your own academic qualification (PhD) is given and explicitly supported!

In parallel, the position “Data-Driven Analysis of Opinion Dynamics” is advertised (see https://uol.de/job1356en). You are welcome to apply for both; in that case, please indicate which position you prefer. Interviews will be held in English, by video if preferred.

Contact

For questions about the position and the project, please contact Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lehnhoff,