Researcher position: Deep decarbonization of Heavy Industry (m/f/d)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

If you enjoy working in a very collaborative, supportive and international team, you love writing and improving code, you like analytical thinking and constructive problem-solving, you want to contribute to tackling one of the big challenges of our time and co-develop with us the REMIND model, one of the world’s leading integrated energy-economy-climate modelling systems – then you may want to apply to the position in our team.

For the energy system research group of PIK`s Research Department 3 on “Transformation Pathways” PIK is offering

Researcher position: Deep decarbonization of Heavy Industry (m/f/d)

(Position number: 28-2022-Researcher position INDUSTRY)

starting as soon as possible.

Candidates wishing to pursue a PhD in these areas with a PIK supervisor as well as those already at postdoc level are encouraged to apply.

The position is funded until 31.7.2024, PhD positions will initially be funded for three years. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13 (100% for a postdoctoral and 75% for a doctoral researcher). This is a full-time position with a weekly working time of 40 hours per week. Appointment is conditional on approval by the funding agency. The position can be filled on a part-time basis.

Key responsibilities:

Industry is causing about 30% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Global and national climate targets require a rapid and deep transformation from fossil to renewable energy carriers and towards a circular economy. Fundamentally new processes such as hydrogen-based primary steel production are already gaining traction and could become competitive within a decade. For other basic materials such as plastics there is a multitude of options and the transition will be even more challenging. In addition, while transitioning towards a climate-neutral industry, the global material flows and international trade patterns will change. Joining our team, you will evaluate new industrial processes and derive scenarios for the industry transformation with our REMIND model. You will engage with industry stakeholders, international researchers and policy makers and discuss the implications for industrialized, emerging and developing economies.

• Contributions to the development of the integrated assessment modeling framework REMIND, with a special focus on industry
• Model-based analysis of various technology and policy solutions
• Participation in project meetings
• Presentation of results at international conferences
• Publication of results in scientific journals

Requirements:

• Master's Degree or PhD in Physics, Engineering, Economics, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, System Sciences or a related field
• Training in formal, quantitative methods, excellent analytical skills
• Experience in research software engineering, programming experience (e.g. R, GAMS)
• Active interest in energy systems analysis and climate change mitigation
• Willingness to travel for work and participate in further training
• Strong motivation and good organizational skills
• Team-orientation and strong communication skills in English. The working language at PIK is English.

We offer:

• the chance to be part of a creative, interdisciplinary team
• a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research institute on Potsdam's beautiful, historic Telegrafenberg campus, a short commuting distance from Berlin
• flexi-time and mobile working (up to 40% of your hours)
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits as well as a subsidized travel card
• High-impact research: PIK researchers publish in renowned international journals, including Nature, Science, or PNAS
• Participation in solution-oriented research with immediate policy relevance and impact on international assessments such as IPCC reports
• Opportunities for cooperation with PIK’s national and international network of leading climate & energy research institutes and think tanks
• Insights and experience in strategic research management and stakeholder consultation and advice
• A structured PhD programme with supervision agreements, a supervision team, reporting obligations, a career development plan, a mediator team and an interdisciplinary education programme
• Career development opportunities for PostDocs, e.g. via Humboldt Graduate School

PIK values equality and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 10.7.2022 directly using our application form .

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit the Statement of Comparability from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. In the case that you do not yet have a ZAB Statement of Comparability for your qualification, please be aware that you will need to request this if your application is successful. You can find further information on this website https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html .

Application documents should comprise a letter of motivation, including research interests, a CV with the contact details of two referees, and a sample of your work (e.g. term paper, thesis or journal publication, exam records, GitHub profile, online publication profile or similar). For further information or to discuss the position please contact Dr. Falko Ueckerdt at ueckerdt(at)pik-potsdam.de .

www.pik-potsdam.de