PhD student in Sustainable Energy Transition

PhD student in Sustainable Energy Transition
Are you interested in working with Sustainable Energy Transition, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD position at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland.

The Department of Earth Sciences conducts research and education in a wide range of areas, from the origins of life on Earth, critical and rare metals and minerals, rock formation, landslides and volcanoes, weather and climate, water resources, natural disasters, to energy resources and sustainable development. We are one of the most inclusive departments of Earth sciences in all of Europe and our education and research are conducted in both Uppsala and in Visby.

The Wind Energy Division at Campus Gotland is engaged in activities related to Wind Energy and Sustainable Energy Transition, including teaching, research and outreach. The group currently consists of about 30 persons who focus on the high-fidelity modelling, planning, development and management of wind power projects, as well as on sustainable energy transition. These individuals have a range of backgrounds, and the group has competencies in engineering, natural- and social science. The group’s teaching consists of both campus and distance education at the bachelor’s level and beyond. With us you will find a pleasant workplace in a unique environment.

The division is located at Campus Gotland, an international campus in the middle of world heritage town Visby. Read more on the division´s website: Wind energy

At Uppsala University, a graduate school in sustainability studies – GRASS – was established in 2021. Now, a second cohort of the graduate school is starting. The main mission of the graduate school is to conduct research based on key social challenges, where local relevance meets international excellence. It examines fields such as cultural heritage, digital methods, sustainable consumption and future energy systems, and addresses significant aspects of preservation and change, as well as the definition and management of resources. The graduate school is rooted in ongoing interdisciplinary collaborations in research and education, conducted in an international environment. Uppsala University Campus Gotland, where the graduate school is located, is a hub for the University"s research and education in sustainability. We work with international partners, guest researchers and local actors with a special focus on knowledge development to manage and cope with the transition needed to live well in a world with climate change. As a doctoral student, you will be part of this interdisciplinary research environment. You will also benefit from courses, seminars and first-class doctoral supervision offered at the graduate school. The doctoral programme topic within the Department of Earth Sciences is Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. Find out more about it here.

Duties

You will be working in the project Searching for flexibility in the GRASS research school on Campus Gotland, where you will share an office space with the other PhD students and participate in the activities of the research school. The aim of the project is to assess the need and potential for a more flexible use of electricity in future energy systems. Two PhD students will address this question from two different perspectives and in collaboration with an experienced group of supervisors.  The project is closely related to Campus Gotland’s profile area Energy transition, Wind and Water.

This specific PhD project will focus on the technological aspects of the energy transition through quantitative analysis of future potential for flexible energy use on Gotland based on different scenarios of diffusion of energy technologies in the energy system. The tasks consist of research and PhD courses, and potentially up to 20% teaching or administrative duties, upon agreement.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in natural science, engineering, or social science, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

In addition, you should have a good knowledge of energy, climate change or sustainable development and experience in quantitative analysis in these areas. Very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

Additional qualifications

It is meritorious to have skills in energy systems analysis, modelling, programming, statistics or data management. It is also an advantage to have good written and oral communication skills and previous experience with scientific work.

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

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2025-08-25 or as agreed. Placement: Visby

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Simon Davidsson Kurland, email simon.davidsson@geo.uu.se or telephone +46 18-471 83 71

Please submit your application by 24 March 2025, UFV-PA 2025/573.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.

About Campus Gotland: Uppsala University Campus Gotland offers the best of two worlds: the full-scale university’s broad offering and weight and a unique, small-scale campus in an interdisciplinary research environment. Campus Gotland is a hub for the University’s research and education in sustainability. Find out what it’s like to live on Gotland.