PhD Position Energy Policy Innovation

Understand, explain, and promote policy innovation in the energy transition through interdisciplinary, mixed methods research

We are looking for a curious, driven, and perseverant PhD candidate to conduct research on energy policy innovation as part of the DECIPHER project.

Funded by the EU Horizon program, DECIPHER will create a decision-making framework for holistic assessment of environmental policy alternatives. The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity increase the urgency for the adoption and implementation of efficient, inclusive, and legitimate environmental policies. Mainstream economic methods currently used in the design of environmental policies, however, fail to capture the complexity of the economy-energy-environment nexus. Rather, policy analysis is informed by a narrow set of metrics that do not encompass broader considerations of justice, sustainability, and wellbeing and fail to account for policy feasibility and policy resilience. Moving beyond the state-of-the-art, DECIPHER will employ an interdisciplinary, systems approach to develop and apply a decision-making framework for ‘real world’ assessment of flagship EU policies. By integrating co-creation, policy sciences' theories, empirical analysis, and biophysical, economic, and energy modelling, the project will significantly improve environmental decision-making on biodiversity and climate change and, thereby, enhance environmental policy effectiveness.

As part of the DECIPHER project, you will support the enhancement of efficiency, inclusiveness, and legitimacy of environmental policy-making through interdisciplinary research on the energy transition. The sustainable energy transition will play a key role in addressing the dual bio-diversity and climate change crises, and will require not only technological diffusion and behavioral change, but also policy innovation. However, evidence on the sources, speed, and success of policy innovation in the context of the energy transition is limited. You will create scholarly knowledge on the characteristics and activities that foster energy policy innovation through a comparative, mixed-methods approach combining techniques such as case study research, computational text analysis, econometrics, qualitative comparative analysis, and process tracing. The specific contexts of energy policy innovation that you study could include the use of economic methods and tools in real-world policy-making, integrated decision-making cutting across policy areas, and long-term and inclusive policy success.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• has a relevant Master’s degree and, preferably, an interdisciplinary background
• shows strong motivation to pursue a PhD in energy studies and public policy
• has proven aptitude for academic research and writing
• demonstrates curiosity, drive, and perseverance

In addition, the following will be highly valued:

• prior experience with qualitative and quantitative methods
• the ability to work independently and in a team
• an interest in teaching and supervising Master’s students
• keenness to sharpen research skills through the TPM Graduate School

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct ). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Nihit Goyal via [email protected].

For information about the application procedure, please contact Martine van de Vorst, HR Advisor via [email protected]

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 5 June 2022, via the application button and upload the following documents to your application:

Candidates shortlisted for the position may be asked to write a brief literature review and present an initial research design as part of the selection process.

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the application procedure.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Understand, explain, and promote policy innovation in the energy transition through interdisciplinary, mixed methods research

We are looking for a curious, driven, and perseverant PhD candidate to conduct research on energy policy innovation as part of the DECIPHER project.

Funded by the EU Horizon program, DECIPHER will create a decision-making framework for holistic assessment of environmental policy alternatives. The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity increase the urgency for the adoption and implementation of efficient, inclusive, and legitimate environmental policies. Mainstream economic methods currently used in the design of environmental policies, however, fail to capture the complexity of the economy-energy-environment nexus. Rather, policy analysis is informed by a narrow set of metrics that do not encompass broader considerations of justice, sustainability, and wellbeing and fail to account for policy feasibility and policy resilience. Moving beyond the state-of-the-art, DECIPHER will employ an interdisciplinary, systems approach to develop and apply a decision-making framework for ‘real world’ assessment of flagship EU policies. By integrating co-creation, policy sciences' theories, empirical analysis, and biophysical, economic, and energy modelling, the project will significantly improve environmental decision-making on biodiversity and climate change and, thereby, enhance environmental policy effectiveness.

As part of the DECIPHER project, you will support the enhancement of efficiency, inclusiveness, and legitimacy of environmental policy-making through interdisciplinary research on the energy transition. The sustainable energy transition will play a key role in addressing the dual bio-diversity and climate change crises, and will require not only technological diffusion and behavioral change, but also policy innovation. However, evidence on the sources, speed, and success of policy innovation in the context of the energy transition is limited. You will create scholarly knowledge on the characteristics and activities that foster energy policy innovation through a comparative, mixed-methods approach combining techniques such as case study research, computational text analysis, econometrics, qualitative comparative analysis, and process tracing. The specific contexts of energy policy innovation that you study could include the use of economic methods and tools in real-world policy-making, integrated decision-making cutting across policy areas, and long-term and inclusive policy success.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• has a relevant Master’s degree and, preferably, an interdisciplinary background
• shows strong motivation to pursue a PhD in energy studies and public policy
• has proven aptitude for academic research and writing
• demonstrates curiosity, drive, and perseverance

In addition, the following will be highly valued:

• prior experience with qualitative and quantitative methods
• the ability to work independently and in a team
• an interest in teaching and supervising Master’s students
• keenness to sharpen research skills through the TPM Graduate School

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct ). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Nihit Goyal via [email protected].

For information about the application procedure, please contact Martine van de Vorst, HR Advisor via [email protected]

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 5 June 2022, via the application button and upload the following documents to your application:

Candidates shortlisted for the position may be asked to write a brief literature review and present an initial research design as part of the selection process.

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the application procedure.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.