PhD student position in wind deployment growth

What determines how much wind power and how quickly it can be deployed in a particular landscape? A PhD position analyzes this question as part of a broader research agenda on understanding the feasibility of climate mitigation. The PhD will focus on analyzing the mechanisms shaping the spatial dimension of wind deployment through statistical analysis and computational experiments based on empirical data from different countries of Northern Europe. The researcher will be part of an inter-disciplinary research group with wide national and international collaboration.

Information about the research and the Department
Solar and wind power are today commercially available. Yet while we know how to design a renewable based energy system in mathematical models, it's an open question whether this can be done in the real world given the socio-political and technological constraints. The team includes researchers doing modeling of future energy systems as well as empirical analysis of socio-political and technological constraints.

The PhD student would contribute to answering this question by investigating diffusion of wind power at subnational level. The market potential of wind power in a low carbon energy system is strongly continent on how densely wind power is deployed. Even if the theoretical potential for wind power is large, the deployment requires land where other interests compete. We aim in this project at understanding which geographic, socio-technical and institutional factors affect wind power deployment at the local and regional level.

As a PhD student you will be part of the Department of Space, Earth and Environment, which contains five divisions, with research and education spanning from global challenges related to sustainability and energy supply to astronomy and space sciences. The department is host to two major infrastructures, Onsala Space Observatory and Chalmers Power Central, and consist of about 250 employees.

The division of Physical Resource Theory conducts research and provides education on solutions to major environmental challenges such as global warming and sustainable land use. Our research is challenge-driven and interdisciplinary building on both technical and social sciences and using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods. The division has around 50 staff members, faculty and PhD-students with diverse expertise, including engineers, natural and social scientists.

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student your main responsibility is to pursue your own doctoral studies, which includes work on the mechanisms and feasibility of energy transitions but also to undertake doctoral courses. You will explore the spatial and socio-political aspects of deployment of wind power. The work also includes analyzing results and writing papers in collaboration with the energy transitions group at Physical Resource Theory.

You are expected to work independently, have the ability to plan and organize your work, to work in close collaboration with other group members and partners, and to be able to communicate scientific results, both orally and in written form, in English. The doctoral program is supposed to lead to the doctoral degree, equivalent to four years of full-time studies, which includes research, coursework, and participation in seminars and conferences. Around 20% of the position includes teaching in relevant courses. Including teaching obligations, the position is expected to be five years.

Qualifications
We require a Master’s degree in economics, engineering, mathematics, environmental science, or related fields of natural and social science with a proven interest in energy studies, familiarity with programming languages, proven experience of writing in English, excellent academic track record and strong motivation and commitment to scientific inquiry.
Experience in energy systems analysis, GIS modelling and statistics is meritorious.

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20210135 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV (including publications if applicable)
• 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)
1-2 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:
• A brief research proposal related to the call (2-3 pages)
• A writing sample in English (e.g. a thesis or course assignment)
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 20 April, 2021. The position will remain open until filled. The expected starting date is around June 2021.

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