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Postdoctoral Fellow in Resource Efficiency and Climate Change

Employer
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU
Location
Trondheim, Norway
Closing date
17 Jun 2020

About the position

The Industrial Ecology Program (IndEcol), Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to advance the development and application of the RECC modeling framework to further synergies between climate change mitigation, resource efficiency, and sustainable development.

Resource efficiency has been recognized at the EU and global levels as an important mechanism to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Land, water, energy, biomass, and minerals comprise resources which are to be used more efficiently. The International Resource Panel has found that there are important potential synergies between reducing material footprints (the indicator for SDG 12.1) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. So-called integrated assessment models, which are central in informing climate change and biodiversity policy, capture material use and industrial production insufficiently. The industrial ecology community has traditionally focused on empirical research of resource use, material cycles, the life cycle impacts of products and technologies, and global supply chains and production networks. There is now a move towards forward-looking, mechanistic models which can provide scenarios of resource use and emissions as a function of technology choice and the implementation of specific mitigation strategies.

The PostDoc would further develop and apply the RECC (Resource Efficiency and Climate Change) modelling framework, which was originally developed by a team of researchers from Yale University, the University of Freiburg, and NTNU to support a study by the International Resource Panel. The RECC study addresses the contribution of material efficiency strategies in residential buildings and light-duty vehicles to the mitigation of GHG emissions. The International Resource Panel would like to more widely use this modelling approach in studies on cities, regional assessment, and as part of its regular Global Resources Outlook. The RECC model will be further developed by an international consortium including the original partners. At the same time, there is an interest from the integrated assessment community to use scenarios for material demand and industrial production in their models. The PostDoc would thus also contribute to the project Axis SHAPE which is led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).

The Head of Department is Professor Terese Løvås. The position’s supervisor is Professor Edgar Hertwich.

Trondheim is the place of duty.

Duties of the position

  • Develop an archetype model for a product group of interest, such as commercial buildings, transport infrastructure, or machinery and equipment. The specific scope is to be decided in dialogue with the modelling team
  • Develop demand scenarios for the product group in question
  • Identify and model improvement strategies
  • Operate and help to improve the ODYM-RECC product and material stock-flow model
  • Write scientific papers
  • Contribute to the coordination and execution of studies for the International Resource Panel
  • Advising of PhD and Master’s students

Selection criteria

A Postdoctoral Fellowship is a qualification position in which the main objective is qualification for work in academic positions

Essential qualificaitons:

  • You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree, or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree, in industrial ecology, energy or climate economics or a related field
  • Strong analytical capabilities
  • Relevant programming and software skills (MatLab, Python, GAMS, R, or similar)
  • Research competence and productivity, demonstrated through research output
  • Relevant subject competence*
  • Interest expressed in a cover letter or research proposal

*Competence in industrial ecology methods (life cycle assessment, material flow analysis, input-output modeling), integrated assessment modeling, or subject knowledge regarding buildings, construction, materials production, or manufacturing.

Desirable qualifications:

  • It is considered a strength if the candidate also speaks a Scandinavian language

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability.

Personal characteristics

  • Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and dedicated
  • Ambitious and goal-oriented
  • Ability to solve complex technical tasks independently
  • Team player
  • Excellent communication skills

We offer

Salary and conditions

The employment period is 4 years.

Postdoctoral candidates are placed in code 1352, and are normally remunerated from NOK 542 400 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite that you are present at and accessible to the Institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other academic work must accompany the application. Please note that only applications submitted before the application deadline will be evaluated. You should ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

The application must include:

  • Cover letter
  • CV, certificates and diplomas
  • Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment
  • Name and address of three referees

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates etc. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Applicants with European Master`s qualifications from outside Norway are required to include a Diploma Supplement. Applicants with Master`s qualifications from China are required to include confirmation of Master`s Diplomas from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Questions about the position should be directed to Professor Edgar Hertwich, edgar.hertwich@ntnu.no. Questions about the recruitment process should be directed to Megan Norris, megan.norris@ntnu.no 

Under the Information Act (Offentleglova), the name, age, position and municipality of an applicant may be made public even if they have submitted a request to have their name removed from the list of applicants. 

Please refer to the application number IV-135/20 when applying. 

Application deadline: 17.06.2020

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

Employees at NTNU must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional, subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for schooling (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life. The city has low crime rates and clean air quality.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end-user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 17th June 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Fixed Term
Jobbnorge ID 187799

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