University of Bremen is looking for: Research Associate (PhD Candidate) (f/m/d) with a focus on socio-technical transition research

Advertisement: Research Associate (PhD Candidate) (f/m/d)

University of Bremen, Faculty 4 - Production Engineering

Classifications E 13 - Full-time Reference number: A37/21 Closing time: 09.04.2021 Public advertisement

Do you want to work analytically and creatively in an interdisciplinary team? Do you want to develop future perspectives and put them into practice?

The Department of Resilient Energy Systems in the Faculty of Production Engineering - Mechanical and Process Engineering at the University of Bremen is looking for a Research Associate (f/m/d) - subject to vacancy - for the position: Research Associate (PhD Candidate) (f/m/d) (TV-L E 13) (Fulltime position for 36 months)

Job description The department is looking for a qualified and motivated PhD student (f/m/d) to study socio-technical transition pathways. For example, the current early phase of the transition to a hydrogen-based industry is technologically and socially characterised by great uncertainties. There is also the question of the “right” transition path. Therefore, this work will combine socio-technical and participatory methods with modelling approaches to enable reflection on different transition paths. This will be tested exemplarily in neighbourhoods and industrial structures. The research work will therefore be located in the context of the BMBF projects “hyTracks” and „QUARREE100“. One focus of the dissertation will be socio-technical analyses and the development of suitable participatory methods to design regional transition paths for the development of the hydrogen economy. Further focal points are the development and integration of suitable methods in the field of complex decision-making and the development of a resilience monitoring approach. You will cooperate in an interdisciplinary team with economists and computer scientists to integrate your experiences and results into an interactive, agent-based modelling platform (cooperation with the Digital Media Lab & IERP, University of Bremen). With the support of interactive, media elements such as “tangible user interfaces”, this platform will allow direct interaction or reflection by the stakeholders. Approaches from innovation research will be combined with agent-based models and energy system modelling and visualised interactively for the stakeholders on the platform. Using these, solution approaches and transition paths are modelled and reflected with stakeholders along the hydrogen value chain or in the design of sustainable neighborhoods.

Requirements The successful candidate is expected to have: • An excellent academic degree (master’s degree/university diploma) in social sciences, environmental psychology, environmental engineering or comparable fields with a socio-technical/transition background. • Professional experience (outside or inside university) in the field of participation research in the context of the transition of the energy system. • Experience in agent-based modelling. • Due to the close cooperation with local project stakeholders, a reasonable knowledge of written and spoken German is desirable (GER – B2).

Preferred qualifications include: • Knowledge of socio-technical methods. • Knowledge in the field of resilience, complex decision-making & robust decision-making Hydrogen technologies.

General hints

What we offer: Current and socially relevant research topics, a family-friendly, personable, interdisciplinary team and close cooperation at the University of Bremen with research groups and institutes, good networking with national & international research partners as well as with companies from the energy industry.

What we expect: Commitment, communication skills, ability to work in a team, independence and openness in working out socio-technical issues, creativity – i.e. “scientists who think outside the box”.

Remarks: The fixed-term contract is for scientific qualification according to § 2 par. 1 WissZeitVG (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz). Accordingly, only applicants who still have qualification periods to the corresponding extent according to § 2 par. 1 WissZeitVG can be considered. As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in science, women are particularly encouraged to apply. In case of equal personal aptitudes and qualification priority will be given to disabled persons. The University of Bremen expressly invites persons with migration background to apply.

Deadline for the application is April 9th, 2021. Applications (cover letter outlining your motivation, CV, copy of your degree certificates) and enquiries should be directed with the reference number A37/21 to:

Dr. Torben Stührmann University of Bremen FB 4 / FG Resilient Energy Systems artec | Sustainability Research Centre Enrique-Schmidt-Strasse 7 28359 Bremen email: [email protected]-bremen.de


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.comses.net/jobs/512/