Postdoc Position with a Focus on Scalable Energy Conversion and Storage Devices in Energy Systems Transition

The Management and Economics of Resources and the Environment Group (MERE) at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences invites applications for a Postdoc with a focus on “Scalable energy conversion and storage devices in energy systems transition.” The Postdoc position is part of the new cross-disciplinary SDU Climate Cluster Elite center for ‘Solar Energy Conversion and Storage (SOLEN)’. The position is located at the SDU campus in Esbjerg, Denmark. The starting date is Sept 1st, 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter, for a 2-year period.

What we offer

The Postdoc position(s) is a part of the new SDU Climate Cluster (SCC) Elite center SOLEN, which aims to design, develop, and bring forward new sustainable solar energy conversion and storage technologies using a strongly cross-disciplinary approach. For this position, the activities focus on developing and implementing a combined portfolio and life-cycle analysis approach to evaluating hurdles, opportunities, and impacts from new energy technologies across systemic scales.

The majority of your working time is devoted to your own research studies. As a Postdoc you are expected to develop your own ideas and communicate scientific results in English. Upon mutual agreement, there may be some teaching responsibilities (including supervision) and minor administration within the research group. Although not required, it is positive when postdocs contribute to knowledge exchange by, inter alia, dissemination of research and participating in the public debate. Applications for Postdocs are evaluated by internal committee.

The successful applicant will be a member of the MERE group at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. A more elaborated description of the research group and related centers can be found on the website. In addition to an international faculty focused on excellence in research and teaching in social sciences, the group has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary methods and approaches both within social sciences and across faculties. The research group also has close relevant ties with three centers: The European Center for Risk & Resilience Studies, the Center for Rural Research, and the Danish Centre for Risk and Safety Management (joint with Aalborg University).

It is the aim of the group to conduct research of the highest international standard documented through 1) publications in internationally distinguished journals, 2) presentations at international conferences, 3) external funding from competitive programs and 4) dissemination with high visibility and broad societal impact.

What we expect

JEL Codes: O13, O33, Q01, Q40, Q50

Candidates must hold a PhD in a field relevant to the mentioned Postdoc-project (economics, environmental/resource economics, energy economics, finance or similar). Preferred candidates have experience with some of the following: portfolio analysis, life cycle analysis, energy storage and conversion systems, renewable resources and energy markets, consumer behavior in energy systems). Due to the strong cross-disciplinary nature of the work, the candidate is expected to have excellent collaboration skills. A very good capability of communicating scientific results in English, both orally and in writing is required.

Workplace description / Research environment

SDU Climate Cluster's mission is, through interdisciplinary research, to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. That is, a society where no more greenhouse gas is emitted than is absorbed. SOLEN is a new Elite Center of the SCC that spans across four faculties at SDU, to foster in a cross-disciplinary manner new solar energy conversion and storage technologies based on green and sustainable solutions. The Postdoc position is hosted at the SDU MERE group, SDU Faculty of Business and Social Science, with overall project leadership from SDU CAPE, Mads Clausen Institute, Faculty of Engineering, which is an international research center working in the field of green energy technologies from scalable thin films. The position includes strong collaborations, research visits and co-supervision with the SOLEN research teams at the other faculties, which include Prof. Ulla Gro Nielsen and Associate Prof. Steffen Bähring (SDU FKF) and Prof. Kerstin Fischer (SDU IDK), along with further collaborators at the Mads Clausen Institute as well as internal collaborators.

We offer a modern, inclusive, international, and interdisciplinary working environment with state-of-the-art facilities as well as a strong tradition of international collaboration. Our ambition is to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development. SDU CAPE and MERE are partners in various national and international research projects and networks that include collaboration partners from both academia and industry.

Read more on: SDU’s employment website

Contact information

For more information about the MERE group or SEBE, please see https://www.SDU.dk/en/sebe.
For information about the Mads Clausen Institute, please see www.SDU.dk/en/mci.

Further information about this position is available from Professor Brooks Kaiser, e-mail: [email protected]

Please be aware that we will not accept any email applications, as all applications must be submitted through the SDU online recruitment system.

If you experience technical problems you must contact [email protected].

Conditions of employment
Applicants are required to have a doctoral degree at the time of employment – see the qualification guidelines.

The assessment process
Read about the Assessment and selection process– see the qualification guidelines. Shortlisting may be used.

Application procedure
Applications should be submitted online through the SDU portal.

About SDU and Esbjerg

International applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment. The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation and housing. For further information on what it is like working at SDU, please read “10 good reasons why you should choose SDU”. Additional information about working in Denmark can be found at Work in Denmark.

SDU is actively working with UN's 17 sustainable development goals, based on free, critical and independent research and education. The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their age, gender, religious affiliation or ethnicity, or any other personal background.

Please apply online via the link in the green box. Applications must be received no later than July 31, 2023, after which the link will no longer be active.