PhD student in Natural Resources/Sustainable Development - Carbon budgets - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Earth Sciences of Uppsala University focuses on subjects that range from the Earth’s core to the atmosphere, on scales from submicroscopic structures in minerals to the formation of mountains and oceans, and from basic research on natural resources to research on how humans can sustainably manage these resources. For more information please visit: the Department of Earth Sciences.

The interdisciplinary research of the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Programme within the department focuses on different dimensions of sustainable development, including sustainable energy transitions. Global Energy Systems (GES) is one of the Programme’s overarching themes that focuses on the global, national and local energy systems and sustainable resource governance from an interdisciplinary perspective. Natural science is combined with technical, economic and social research to analyse, understand and model how energy systems work and change over time and how they interact with the economy, the environment and our society.

The PhD student position is placed in Uppsala within the interdisciplinary research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.

Duties/Project description: The PhD position is part of the research project “Integration of regional carbon budgets into regional climate policy” funded by the Swedish Energy Agency. The overall purpose of this project, led by Associate Professor Magdalena Kuchler, is to contribute to increased knowledge about the role Swedish counties can play in the transition to a fossil-free society. The project concentrates on three Swedish counties that represent different levels of engagement with the carbon budgets: 1) Västra Götaland, 2) Västerbotten, 3) Östergötland. The primary method will be an approach developed by Nilson et al. (2012) for investigating the coherence and level of integration between public policy goals. For this project, the method will be modified to create analytical matrixes of agency, temporalities and necessary evaluation practices.

The work of the PhD student will be focused on identifying and investigating: 1) political and institutional actors that are necessary for the effective integration of ambitious carbon budget targets into climate policy frameworks; 2) temporalities generated by the integration of ambitious carbon budget targets into existing (climate) policy frameworks; 3) evaluation methods needed to ensure effective action and the integration process. The PhD student is expected to help coordinate activities in the case studies and engagement with stakeholders, as well as take part in project meetings and contribute to communication and dissemination activities.

The position can include up to 20% of teaching and administrative work, which extends the employment period with a corresponding time. Teaching can include, for example, courses in “Energy, Water and Food” (1GE059), “Energy Security in Local and Global Energy Systems” (1GV334), and “Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy Transitions” (1GV210).

Requirements: The applicant shall have a university master’s degree in political science, public administration, governance, environmental management and policy, sustainable development, science and technology studies or similar. The successful candidate shall have documented experience in applying qualitative research methods, such as textual analysis, interviews, observations, and stakeholder mapping. Good written and spoken English language skills are a requirement. Experience in interdisciplinary research and skills in the organisation of stakeholder involvement processes or any engagement with stakeholders (e.g. interviews, workshops) are required.

Additional qualifications: Good Swedish language skills.

Application: The application should include a cover letter (in English) shortly describing your personal motivation for applying for this PhD position and how you see your role in contributing to the projects, as well as relevant skills/qualifications and research interests. The application should also include a CV, copies of relevant exams, degrees and grades, MSc thesis and other relevant documents, such as letter(s) of recommendation and contact details of two referees.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.

Starting date: 01-11-2021 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: Magdalena Kuchler, phone number: +46 18 471 68 85, email: magdalena.kuchler@geo.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 6 September 2021, UFV-PA 2021/3026.

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