PhD student or Postdoc - Urban energy transitions

Information about the research and the division
This PhD/postdoc project attempts at supporting urban transitioning to low-carbon futures by modelling urban energy systems. This involves systems modelling of various pathways with the potential of substantially lowering the climate impact and analysis of system costs, stakeholder involvement and benefits to the municipalities and their citizens. The modelling will likely include both the stationary and transport sectors and is to be carried out in collaboration with municipality officials.

The PhD/postdoc project will require the development and use of modelling methodologies able to capture pathway dynamics and techno-economics of the transitions processes along with interactions of real-world actors. For this, a combination of cost optimization modelling and system dynamics modelling methodology is deemed suitable.

The division of Energy Technology conducts research and offers education in energy technology and energy systems. Our work is characterised by the combination of systems-level projects with research on energy transformation processes, and our participation in a great number of national and international research projects. The research of the Energy System Group focuses on energy transitions, sustainable energy systems, and energy system technology with a particular emphasis on modelling analysis of transitions of the power, heat and transport sectors.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities as PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. You are also expected to contribute to the project and take active part and in building and maintaining collaborative links with relevant members of the department, research project members and stakeholders. A PhD student position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level and/or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours. You are expected to write a licentiate thesis within 2-3 years and defend your doctoral thesis within 4-5 years.

As a postdoc you are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. You are also expected to contribute to the project and take active part and in building and maintaining collaborative links with relevant members of the department, research project members and stakeholders.

Position summary
The PhD position is limited to a maximum of five years and the postdoc is limited to two years. In both cases, the position is on a full-time, temporary employment basis.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education (ECTS) credits in a relevant field: Engineering Physics, Energy, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical or Civil Engineering; preferably with a master in urban planning, energy systems or industrial ecology.

To qualify as a postdoc you must have a PhD degree before the start of the employment; preferably in urban energy planning, energy systems/transport systems planning/assessment/modelling.

Experience/knowledge of energy systems modelling, optimisation, system dynamics, local energy systems, transport systems, municipal energy planning, transport planning, stakeholder interviews, inter-disciplinary work, courses in economy, policy and/or social sciences is meritorious. Excellent writing and communication skills in English are required. Writing and communication skills in Swedish or any other Scandinavian language is meritorious.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20200524 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

For PhD student position
CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

For Post-Doc
CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:
• CV, include complete list of publications.
• Previous teaching and pedagogical experiences.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Attested copies of completed education, grades and other certificates.

The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 15 December, 2020

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***