Post-doc/Senior Researcher Position on Governance of the Energy Transition in Switzerland 80-100%

EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institution: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 17,000 people, including over 12,500 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Your mission :
Within the SWEET EDGE project (enabling decentralized renewable generation in the Swiss cities, midlands, and the alps), we are offering an 80-100% post-doc/senior researcher position in the field of governance of the energy transition at the Laboratory for Human-Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS), ENAC, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The HERUS Laboratory engages itself in the transition of urban systems towards sustainability. The future post-doc will build on and further develop the area of governance of the energy transition, as a key component of transitions towards sustainable urban systems.

Main duties and responsibilities include :

• Understand the social-actor networks fostering or hindering the adoption of renewable energy-related technologies in the cities and alps.
• Understand the policy landscape and political institutions in Swiss energy system
• Analyze and compare the governance structures related to adoption of energy-related technologies
• Support PhD students and MSc students in the area of qualitative social science, e.g., workshop and interview design.
• Teaching in master course related to the energy transition

Your profile :

• An excellent PhD degree, preferably in Social Sciences or Geography
• A strong methodological background in qualitative social science, in particular governance and social network theory
• Knowledge and some experience in transdisciplinary research
• Knowledge of quantitative social network methods
• Knowledge of the energy sector and interest in the Swiss energy system
• Interest in transition studies
• Strong team spirit, social skills, independence and a high level of motivation for academic research work motivated by relevant practical problems
• Excellent communication and project management skills for collaborating within the EDGE consortium and the local stakeholders in the energy sector
• Proficiency in English is required, French knowledge is expected, German knowledge is of advantage

We offer :

• Excellent working conditions: an innovative and competitive atmosphere, modern equipped working areas, and an environment that promotes access to the world's best scientists
• Interdisciplinary working environment
• Full financial support including conference visits

Start date :

April 2024

Your application should include motivation letter, and curriculum vitae including your list of publications and two references.
Application closes on February 20th

For questions, please contact [email protected]

Term of employment :
Fixed-term (CDD)

Work rate :
80-100%

Duration :
1 year renewable up to 4 years

Remark :
Only candidates who applied through EPFL website or our partner Jobup’s website will be considered. Files sent by agencies without a mandate will not be taken into account.

Reference :
Job Nb 3242

apply online