PhD Stipend in European Sustainable Energy and Market Governance

PhD Stipend in European Sustainable Energy and Market Governance

At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Sustainability and Planning (PLAN), a PhD stipend is available within the general study programme Planning and Development. The stipend is open for appointment from 1 May 2025 or soon hereafter.

Jobbeskrivelse
The PhD position is part of the research project ‘Green Market Making: Sustainable Energy and the Single Market in Europe (GMM)’ led by Associate Professor Troels Krarup, who will also be the main supervisor of the PhD project. GMM is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark and aims to develop the concept of green market making and empirically analyze the synergies and conflicts that emerge from the intersection between Europe’s sustainable energy transition and the Single Market framework. The project draws on Michel Callon’s concept of‘markets in the making’ to study how EU institutions, Member States, and major energy companies engage with the tensions between Europe’s sustainable energy plans and its competition paradigm and how those engagements contribute to the formation of green market making in Europe. The broader research contribution of GMM is to move beyond the traditional foci on either specific market designs or political struggles and instead trace the synergies and conflicts that emerge from the intersection between Europe’s sustainable energy transition and the Single Market framework.

The PhD will be responsible for studying how major energy companies in France and Denmark with potentially ‘dominant’ or ‘gatekeeper’ market positions navigate European anti-trust regulation. Relatively few companies preside over the infrastructure access, technological design, innovation potential, and production capacity needed for long-term high-risk investments in, for example, off-shore wind farms and PtX. Focus should be on how companies strategically navigate advantageous investment conditions in light of the EU competition paradigm’s regulations on‘market power’,‘dominant players’ and‘gatekeepers’. In addition to the analysis of companies, the PhD will work together with Troels Krarup on how EU institutions use their market-making mandate in the pursuit of sustainable energy transition and on the theoretical and analytical synthesis of the GMM project. Empirically, the PhD will conduct legal and other document research alongside qualitative elite and expert interviews in Denmark, France, and Brussels. The PhD is also expected to complete a long-term research stay at a university abroad(to be specified). Finally, the PhD will have a limited teaching obligation at The Department of Sustainability and Planning (PLAN).

The PhD will have the support of regular research project meetings and will be invited to participate in conferences, workshops, and advisory board meetings. As part of the GMM project, the PhD will join the Design for Sustainability research group which shares a systemic and socio-technical perspective on sustainable transition. Together with PLAN, the group hosts a stimulating interdisciplinary academic environment.

The following qualifications in particular will be weighted positively in the assessment of candidates and should be highlighted in the application:

• A background in sustainable design, planning, sociology, political science, geography, or related disciplines
• Training/experience in working with social or political theories and theory-driven projects
• Training/experience in qualitative methods, particularly interviewing and document analysis
• Experience(e.g., through internships, projects, work or other) with energy systems and/or competition policy
• Proficiency in written and oral English and ideally also working knowledge of Danish and/or French.

The application should not exceed three pages(excluding CV, letters of recommendation and other appendices) and should include ideas and suggestions about how the candidate would approach the study of companies and contribute to the broader theoretical ambitions of the GMM project.

You may obtain further information, including the full project description, from Troels Krarup by mail [email protected] or phone (+45 42 58 88 31) concerning the scientific aspects of the stipend.

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Helle S. Thomsen, The Doctoral School at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, email: [email protected]

Department of Sustainability and Planning
The department was established in 1975. Today, we are located in two beautiful harbour-front locations in Aalborg and Copenhagen. We have more than 250 employees and approximately 1,160 students.
Our research and study programmes are rooted in sustainability and the green transition. This means we conduct research in areas such as circular economy, technology, urban-, energy-, and environmental planning, as well as sustainable transition and design. Sustainability is central to our work in environmental assessment and marine management. In surveying and land use, sustainability is reflected in our efforts in nature restoration and climate adaptation.
As society continues to develop digitally, we also focus on responsible technology development, addressing real-life challenges. Our problem-oriented approach and close collaboration with businesses and public organisations form the foundation of all our study programmes. Additionally, our engineering programmes are among the best in Europe.

For more information of The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design: www.phd.tech.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the"Apply online" button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Aalborg University
Aalborg University (AAU) provides outstanding research and education. At AAU, we believe that knowledge can and should change the world. This belief drives our high ambitions. We seek knowledge through interaction with the world around us, focusing on real problems and missions that we aim to solve with sustainable solutions. Our research and educational programs are multidisciplinary and built on close collaborations with business and industry. This approach is further strengthened by our world-renowned Problem-Based Learning (PBL) teaching model, which is grounded in solving real-world problems. These collaborations, along with our recognized research, contribute new insights, solutions to societal challenges, and knowledge that is changing the world.

In 2024, AAU has moved from the world Top-10 to the world Top-5 on sustainability! On the internationally acclaimed Times Higher Education Impact ranking list, AAU takes fourth place among close to 1.600 universities worldwide. The ranking list evaluates the contributions of universities in terms of fulfilling the UN's sustainable development goals. In recent years, Aalborg University has risen in the international lists of university rankings. More than 18,000 students are enrolled at Aalborg University, of which over 7% are international students from various countries worldwide. To support them, we have 3500 employees, divided between Aalborg University's main campus in Aalborg and our departments in Copenhagen and Esbjerg.

Løn og ansættelsesvilkår
Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 15 December 2021 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.

Ansøgningsfrist
2025-01-15

Ref. nummer
20-24073

Afdeling
Department of Planning