Doctoral student in Sustainable energy systems

The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University was founded in 1994 and has since developed genuine interdisciplinary education and research with focus on strategies for sustainable development. The Institute facilitates a great number of external research and development projects as well as two international master programs. More information is available on the Institute's website www.iiiee.lu.se. The working language of the Institute is English.

Subject description

The doctoral student will work on the project “Evaluating transformative energy governance in an urban context”. The aim of this project is to increase the capacity of cities to govern transformative change towards sustainable and climate-neutral energy systems. The project, which has an interdisciplinary approach, includes three doctoral students - one at Lund University (IIIEE), one at Linköping University and one at Stockholm Environmental Institute. The project is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and the doctoral students will be part of the national interdisciplinary graduate school in Energy Systems.

The focus of the project is on the evaluation of transformative policy tools for climate-neutral energy system, and the development of an interdisciplinary evaluation framework that will allow for building strategies of continuous, learning-oriented evaluation approaches that can make the implementation of new transformative policy instruments more effective. The empirical focus will be on transformative governance tools which are currently gaining increasing attention in research and policy, (1) urban experimentation and system demonstrations, (2) transformative finance at the city level, and (3) public procurement for system innovation.

The doctoral student at the IIIEE will focus on the evaluation of public procurement for system innovation, taking into account aspects of how procurement programs support a transformative change of local energy systems, technology change (including technology performance), various learning processes related to innovation, and institutional change.

We offer
Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. It is advisable to enter information on what your unit specifically can offer as a new workplace.

Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee: Work at Lund University

Work duties

The position will be based at the IIIEE, Lund University, and the doctoral student will be part of the national interdisciplinary graduate school in Energy Systems funded by the Swedish Energy Agency. The candidate is expected to participate in the activities organized by the graduate school in Energy Systems including a course package of 30 cr.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Being part of the project, the position includes conducting high-quality research, publishing in international scientific journals, providing relevant recommendations to societal actors, supporting the development of user-oriented outputs, and organizing and participating in project related events. The research will require a combination of methods for data collection and analysis, including case studies, focus groups, interviews, workshops, and document studies. The doctoral student will also contribute to impact and communication activities throughout the project.

The work will involve a lot of travelling to courses and meetings arranged by the national graduate school in Energy systems, as well as travelling related to fieldwork in the project.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Sustainable energy systems if the applicant:

• holds a Master’s degree in a relevant, preferably multi-disciplinary, field (e.g. climate and energy studies, governance, planning, institutional, and/or organisational studies).
• has a degree or has passed a course related to environmental management/policy.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.

2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.

3. Written and oral communication skills

4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Documented ability to identify and justify research gaps, formulate research problem, research aim and research questions;
• Documented experience of analysing energy solutions and/or other forms of (sustainable) innovations in urban contexts;
• Documented experience of conducting and analysing in-depth interviews;
• Documented experience of collaborating with others (including societal actors).

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).