PhD position in Citizen-led energy projects to curb the sustainable energy transition
Deadline: 02.02.2022
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
With about 16,000 students, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest higher education institutions in Norway. A broad range of academic programmes are offered at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels, spread out on five campuses Førde, Sogndal, Bergen, Stord og Haugesund.
Our ambition is to build stronger and more solid academic and research environments that will interact nationally and internationally. The aim is to become a recognized actor on the international higher education arena. Increased international cooperation and engagement in externally funded projects will work towards this goal.
The Faculty of Engineering and Science has approximately 300 employees and approximately 3,200 students. The faculty has a broad educational offer at both bachelor's and master's level in engineering and science, as well as PhD education in computer technology. The Mohns Center for Innovation and Regional Development researches innovation and offers master's education in innovation and entrepreneurship. The diving education offers a one-year vocational school education.
The main part of the faculty's activities are in Haugesund, Bergen, Sogndal and Førde, but we also offer decentralized education in Stord.
The faculty's activities are internationally based and take place in close collaboration with regional companies, clusters, health trusts and the public sector, including other institutions in the university and college sector. This applies to research, development, innovation and not least education with student projects at all levels.
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Environmental Sciences has a vacancy for a PhD position in citizen-led energy projects to curb the sustainable energy transition
About the position:
The PhD position is part of the ongoing research in the lab “Data-driven energy system analysis” at HVL at the Department of Environmental Sciences. Current most relevant projects include EU-funded projects COMETS “Collective Action Models for Energy Transition and Social Innovation” (2019-2022) and DRES2Markets “Technical, business and regulatory approaches to enhance the renewable energy capabilities to take part actively in the electricity and ancillary services markets” (2020-2023). The research lab focuses on understanding the role of new actors in energy markets to curb the sustainable energy transition, using a broad portfolio of quantitative and qualitative methods.
The PhD will contribute to increased understanding of how to transfer expert and situated knowledge about sustainable energy in planning and management across different levels of government. Core interests target the different dimensions of sustainable development in general and SDG in particular interacting with one another, creating tradeoffs and synergies. The candidate will participate in co-production workshops with practitioners from relevant project partners, contributing with insights from the research.
A full project description will be detailed at the start of the PhD period, in close collaboration between the candidate and the supervisors.
About the PhD project/ work tasks:
The PhD candidate is expected to enroll in the HVL PhD program Responsible Innovation and Regional Development (RESINNREG)—an innovation study program encompassing public sector innovation, green innovation, and industry innovation. It is a prerequisite that the PhD candidate fulfills the admission requirements for the selected PhD program within the first three months of employment.
The PhD candidate will furthermore collaborate with the Center of Study and Research on International Development (CERDI) at the University of Clermont-Auvergne and ERASME Jean Monnet Center of Excellence on Sustainability. The PhD is a temporary, three-year position, which can be extended to four years with an additional year of teaching duties at the Department of Environmental Sciences depending on the qualifications and interests of the applicant.
We offer a stimulating, interdisciplinary academic environment and a team of supervisors located in Sogndal (Norway) and Clermont-Ferrand (France). The position is affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences at campus Sogndal.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have a completed master’s degree (120 ECTS) in energy system analysis, economics, climate change management, or similar fields, including a master thesis of at least 30 ECTS with grade “B” or better in the Norwegian grading system.
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the energy transition in general and citizen-led projects in the energy sector in particular, through academic courses and exams, topical integration in master’s thesis or practice experience. Furthermore, the candidate must have experience from using qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis.
Scientific publications beyond a master’s thesis will strengthen the application. Considering the nature of the collaboration between the research lab “Data-driven energy system analysis” at HVL and the “Center of Study and Research on International Development ” at UCA, we seek candidates willing to work interdisciplinary.
The candidate must be able to work independently, be flexible and self-motivated, and demonstrate good collaborative abilities. Good communication skills in English, both written and oral, are mandatory.
Application procedure:
The application must include a short note (max. 6000 characters) outlining the applicant’s perception of challenges with the ongoing energy transition and the role of citizen-led initiatives therein, pointing out knowledge needs, and placing the applicant’s own competence in this picture.
Applicants with an education from outside of Norway must include a certified translation in English (or a Scandinavian language) of their diploma(s) and transcript(s) of grades. Furthermore, applicants with an education from outside of Norway must include an assessment of their education from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), confirming that the applicant’s education corresponds in scope and level to a Norwegian master’s degree.
Please see www.nokut.no/en for more information about NOKUT’s general recognition. This may take some time and we recommend you to apply as soon as you know you will apply for this position. If no answer within the application deadline, please enclose documentation from NOKUT that they have received your application.
The following elements will be emphasized in the evaluation of applicants:
Academic qualifications within the advertised area
Quality of master's thesis
Knowledge of the energy transition in general and citizen-led projects in the energy sector in particular
Demonstrated ability to produce scientific reports, papers and conference contributions
English written and oral communication and presentation skills
Personal characteristics
Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel of three members.
Applicants are asked to submit their application and CV online. Please use the link “Apply for this job” (“Søk stillingen”).
The following documentation should be uploaded as an attachment to the online application:
Master Thesis
Copies of selected academic publications (no more than 15)
A CV with a complete list of academic publications
Diplomas and certificates
Applicants should indicate which publications or parts of publications should be given special consideration in the evaluation. If the documents submitted are not in a Scandinavian language or in English, the applicants must submit certified translations of these. The transcripts must specify the topics, the course works, and the grades at the bachelor`s and master`s degree levels.
Applicants should note that the evaluation will be based on the documentation submitted electronically via Jobbnorge within the submission deadline. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the documentation is submitted before the closing date. It is of utmost importance that all publications to be considered in the evaluation are uploaded as an attachment with the application, since these are sent electronically to the expert panel. Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at the college.
Salary:
Good occupational pension, insurance and loan schemes from The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
Exciting academic environment with the possibility of competence enhancement and development
Opportunities for training within the working hours
Initial salaries will be offered at grade 54 (code 1017) in the Civil Service pay grade table scale.
There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see http://www.spk.no for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.
General information:
The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway ("Lov om statens ansatte)". Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.
State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.
Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected.
Short-listed applicants will be called in for an interview.
Contacts:
1) Supervisor and professor, Valeria Jana Schwanitz (HVL), email: valerias@hvl.no, tel +47 95764411
