Postdoctoral Researcher – Biodiversity and Economic Decision-Making (2y)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Biodiversity and Economic Decision-Making (2 years, with extension possibility)

Application deadline: May 31, 2026. Preferred starting date: September 2026

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join the NWO-funded BIONEERS programme (BIOdiversity PioNEERS for Nature-Positive Value Chains). BIONEERS focuses on understanding barriers to nature-positive (N+) decision-making, developing coherent biodiversity metrics and monitoring frameworks, and mainstreaming biodiversity across agro-food value chains.

The new colleague will design and conduct causal empirical research on nature-positive decision-making in corporate and financial contexts. This may include (i) field experiments with firms to test behavioral and informational interventions that shift biodiversity-related decision-making; (ii) choice experiments with consumers, managers, or other stakeholders to identify preferences and barriers; and (iii) quasi-experimental designs exploiting firm-level, supply chain, or regulatory variation to identify causal effects of biodiversity exposure and reporting on corporate behavior.

The new colleague will have the following tasks:

• Design and execute empirical research with a causal identification strategy
• Develop and test behavioral and informational interventions in real-world settings, in co-development with companies and stakeholders within BIONEERS
• Work with biodiversity / natural capital datasets (e.g., ENCORE, potentially lifecycle or supply chain data) to operationalize firm-level exposure, risks, and impacts
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary partners across economics, ecology, and business
• Contribute to drafting technical reports, research papers and policy briefings

About Nyenrode Business University
Nyenrode is a triple-crown accredited (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS), B corp certified small-scale private business university in the Netherlands that offers degree and executive education programs in accountancy, business, controlling, governance, management, and tax. Founded in 1946 for and by business, we combine academia, practice, and personal development to serve society by shaping responsible leaders for a sustainable future.

The main university campus is on a beautiful historic estate boasting a 13th-century castle close to Utrecht and Amsterdam. Other locations include the unique Keizersgracht in the heart of Amsterdam and the World Trade Center in the heart of policy-making in The Hague.

The current vacancy is with the Center for Corporate Reporting, Finance, and Tax. The Center comprises around 20 research-active faculty members who regularly publish in highly ranked and reputed academic and practice-oriented journals. The candidate will work in the team with Prof. Michael H.R. Erkens and Prof. Stefan Thewissen.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Holds (or is close to completing) a PhD in economics, applied economics, environmental economics, or a related field (e.g., public policy, business administration, or ecology) with strong quantitative training
• Has strong empirical and causal inference skills, including experience with or interest in experimental research
• Is comfortable working with applied data (firm-level, survey, or environmental data)
• Has demonstrated commitment to sustainability and/or biodiversity
• Is able to work independently and collaborate across disciplines
• Has strong English communication skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience collaborating with firms, consumers, or policy stakeholders
• Familiarity with biodiversity / natural capital data (e.g., ENCORE or similar data)
• Experience linking environmental indicators to economic decision-making
• Demonstrated interest in translating research into actionable recommendations with real-world impact

We offer:

• Opportunity to publish in top academic journals and build a strong research pipeline in an emerging field
• Direct exposure to high-impact policy discussions at the intersection of biodiversity, finance, business, and regulation in the Netherlands, the European Union, and beyond
• Opportunity to work at the frontier of biodiversity, finance, and decision-making, in a unique interdisciplinary ecosystem
• Strong support for career development, including networking opportunities and visibility within international research and policy communities
• Access to a strong network across academia, policy, and industry
• 2-year full-time position, with possibility of extension
• Competitive salary and benefits in line with Dutch academic standards
• Teaching obligations are limited and competitive

About BIONEERS

The BIONEERS programme is funded by NWO (Dutch Research Council) and brings together an interdisciplinary consortium of academic institutions — including Leiden University, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, HAS Green Academy, and Nyenrode Business University — and collaborating organisations across the agro-food value chain, such as Rabobank, Friesland Campina, Albert Heijn, Heineken, JDE Peet's, KPMG, EY, WWF-NL, and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture (LVVN).

Application procedure

Please send PDF versions of your cover letter, curriculum vitae, and relevant research (published or working papers), and the names of two academic references to s.thewissen@nyenrode.nl.

The application deadline is May 31, 2026. Preferred starting date is September 2026. Please contact Prof. Stefan Thewissen for any questions about the position (s.thewissen@nyenrode.nl).