PhD; Investigate & Foster Multi-System Interactions in Local Energy Transitions

Are you passionate about sustainability transitions? Are you eager to adopt a multi-system perspective to better understand and contribute to the sustainable transformation of local energy systems? We are offering a fully funded PhD (4y, 1fte) position, in which you will collaborate with closely related research projects.

Job description

Sustainability transitions necessitate transformative changes that go beyond the confines of individual socio-technical systems. However, both academic research and policy efforts often concentrate on single systems, such as food, mobility, and energy. This siloed research approach can lead to a narrow understanding of transition processes that favours bottom-up forces for change within single socio-technical systems, while largely neglecting how interactions between multiple-systems could be drivers or barriers for transformative change. In line with this research bias, policy efforts have mostly been aiming at transforming single systems, resulting in misalignments and tensions in ongoing transitions. Examples are increasing grid congestion and high costs associated with district heating in the Netherlands compared to their more integrated counterparts in Denmark.

In this PhD research you will adopt a multi-system perspective to investigate local energy transitions, which refer to local socio-technological configurations, often developed by energy communities and/or municipalities, that involve innovations such as distributed renewable energy generation, smart grid systems, local energy trading, sustainable heating solutions, and shared electric mobility.

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct empirical research on local energy transitions, with a specific focus on changes that transcend system boundaries. Such a multi-system perspective is particularly relevant for energy transitions, as energy is by definition a means for activities and practices in other socio-technical systems. For instance, you will investigate local misalignments, tensions, and barriers that result from treating heat and electricity transitions as separate policy domains and explore how system integration and sector coupling can be fostered to accelerate transformative change at the local level.

Requirements:

We are looking for an enthusiastic, curious and creative candidate with:

• A relevant Master's degree (or close to obtaining) in the social sciences (Innovation Sciences, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Transition studies, Sustainable Energy Technologies, etc.). Please, mind: this is NOT an engineering project!
• Practical experience with qualitative (and quantitative) research methods.
• Preferably: experience with transdisciplinary research approaches.
• The ability to work independently and in a team.
• Very good organizational, communicative, and connective skills; you will collaborate with a wide variety of academic and societal groups.
• Excellent scientific writing, planning, and presentation skills. 
• A strong command of the English language (C1 level); Command of Dutch language is an advantage.

Salary Benefits:

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• The successful candidate will be offered a full-time PhD position, initially for one year. Upon good performance, the contract will be extended for three more years.
• You will spend 15% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,901 max. € 3,707).
• The salary is supplemented by a holiday allowance of 8% per year and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

38 hours per week

De Rondom 70