Postdoctoral Position in Energy Law

Postdoctoral Position in Energy Law in collaboration between the Department of Law and the Department of Earth Sciences

Field of Research
The current call is part of a novel collaboration between researchers in law and earth sciences at Uppsala University. The collaboration is intended to lead to the step-by-step establishment of a multi-disciplinary research environment that can provide competence relating to the influence of law and geopolitics on energy transition in Europe. The researchers are interested in balances between, on the one hand, geological, ecological, geographical, and technical preconditions and, on the other hand, legal, political and financial restrictions. The initial attention is aimed at a series of recent and upcoming EU regulations, such as the Chips Act, the Net Zero Industry Act, the Circular Economy Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act. These all relate to the pre-existing Battery Regulation. The current call focuses on the Critical Raw Materials Act. The act seeks to ensure that EU member states have access to a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and that way safeguard their economic resilience and strategic autonomy. The overall question to be addressed by the postdoctoral researcher is how this will influence battery research and production in Sweden and Europe? The project should entail descriptive analysis of the Critical Raw Materials Act with its relevant context and an elaborate study of its implementation that includes assessment of tensions between some short-term and long-term perspectives.

Tasks
The postdoctoral researcher will be employed at the Law Department but engage actively with researchers from the Department of Earth Sciences. The position is funded by COMPEL (COMPEL – Vetenskapsområdet för teknik och naturvetenskap – Uppsala universitet). Therefore, the postdoctoral researcher will also be a member of the multi-disciplinary COMPEL community. The position will provide ample opportunity for interaction with non-academic actors and collaboration with public authorities and private firms. It will entail teaching up to a maximum of 20 percent. Teaching could include advanced level courses at the Department of Law and relevant courses throughout Uppsala University, such as Energy Security in Global and Local Energy Systems, Futures Studies: Exploring Sustainable Futures, Sustainable Energy Technology at the Department of Earth Sciences.

Requirements and assessment
Applicants should have a PhD degree in law or a foreign degree equivalent to the same. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for application. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as parental or sick leave, national defence service, and service in trade unions or student organisations. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Ability to teach in Swedish is regarded as a merit.

The application shall include:

• personal letter initial project proposal (maximum 15,000 characters with spaces)
• CV
• list of publications
• 5 selected publications (PDF or other digital)
• copies of relevant diploma and certificates
• letters of recommendation (minimum two)

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the employment contact: Professor Carl Fredrik Bergström at carl.fredrik.bergstrom@jur.uu.se or Professor David Langlet at david.langlet@jur.uu.se

Please submit your application by 13 February 2026, UFV-PA 2025/4027.