PhD Student (f/m/d)

Karlstad University; Linz; Vor Ort; EUR 28.761 - 34.450; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Collaborative international research environment

Professional development mentoring

Climate Ticket Upper Austria for public transportation

Zusammenfassung

Karlstad University in Linz is offering a PhD position at the AI & Sustainability Policy Lab. The role requires strong analytical skills and a Master's degree in a relevant field, with focus on AI-driven policy research to tackle climate challenges.

As a PhD student, you will conduct independent research while contributing to collaborative projects. The position includes professional development opportunities and a gross salary of EUR 2,832.10 (30h/week).

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Proficient in programming (e.g., Stata, R, Python).
• Experience in empirical research through thesis or projects.
• Fluent in English, capable of independent and collaborative work.

Aufgaben

• Conduct research and write academic publications.
• Attend conferences and contribute to research activities.
• Perform auxiliary activities in academic teaching.
• Collaborate with other research groups on interdisciplinary tasks.

Kenntnisse

Quantitative and analytical skills

Programming proficiency (Stata, R, Python)

Experience with empirical research

Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Fluency in English

Ausbildung

Master's degree in economics, data science, statistics, public policy, or related field

Tools

Stata

R

Python

Jobbeschreibung

#TRANSFORMINGTOMORROW: MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH US.

IT:U is Austria‘s first public interdisciplinary university dedicated to digital transformation for the benefit of our society, economy, and environment.

PhD Student (f/m/d)*

AI & Sustainability Policy Lab

IT:U Doctoral School – PhD Program Computational X

1 PhD position | 30h/week | Up to 4 years | On-site in Linz (AT) | Start Date: October 2026 | Principal Investigator: Professor Elisabeth Gsottbauer

Field of Research & Scope

The AI & Sustainability Policy Lab makes use of AI- and data-driven methods to design, evaluate, and scale effective climate and conservation policies. We combine causal inference, behavioral/experimental economics, and machine learning to support evidence-based sustainability transitions. Climate change and biodiversity loss pose complex societal challenges that require both rigorous policy evaluation and advanced computational tools.

• Generating credible causal evidence on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of climate and conservation policies.
• Developing and applying machine learning methods to improve policy targeting, prediction, and heterogeneous treatment effect estimation.
• Integrating econometrics and AI to build transparent tools that support adaptive, evidence-based decision-making.

During their stay, the PhD student will work collaboratively within a shared research agenda while pursuing complementary but independent topics. The position will focus primarily on causal policy evaluation using econometric methods and insights from behavioral science, field and survey experiments, and quasi-experimental research designs. Research may involve theory, modeling, surveys, experiments, quasi-experimental designs, and computational methods, often in international, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Program Structure

IT:U offers a 4-year, structured PhD program.

In the first year, emphasis is placed on focused group work, research lab modules, and Project Integrated Courses (PICS). The first year concludes with a PhD Proposal Presentation. Over the next three years, students will develop and write their PhD theses. This is accompanied by interdisciplinary research seminars and work as a project assistant.

The PhD program concludes after the 4th year with the submission and defense of the PhD thesis.

We offer

• Collaborations: The lab collaborates with international partners in academia, policy institutions, and sustainability organizations. The lab actively supports interdisciplinary co-supervision within IT:U and with external partners.
• International mobility and exchange: Candidates will benefit from international research exchanges with collaborating institutions across Europe and beyond. Short-term research stays and participation in international conferences are encouraged and supported.
• Professional and personal development: Doctoral students will receive structured mentoring in research design, publication strategy, grant writing, and science-to-policy translation. The lab emphasizes academic excellence, policy relevance, and the development of transferable skills for careers in academia, public institutions, or the private sector.

Responsibilities & Tasks

• Conducting research
• Writing academic publications
• Attending national and international conferences
• Contributing to activities of the research group
• Collaborating with other research groups on an interdisciplinary basis
• Performing auxiliary activities in academic teaching up to 2 weekly credit hours
• Helping to file applications for third-party funding
• Complying with the institution’s academic standards and ethical guidelines

Skills & Qualifications needed

We seek highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in the intersection of sustainability, policy, and computational methods.

Applicants should have:

• A degree equivalent to a Master’s degree in economics, data science, statistics, public policy, or a related field
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Proficiency in programming (e.g., Stata, R or Python)
• Experience with empirical research (e.g., through a thesis or research project)
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment
• Fluency in English

Depending on profile, the following expertise is expected:

• Advanced knowledge of applied econometrics and experimental/behavioral economics
• Experience with causal inference methods (e.g., RCTs, DiD, IV, panel models)
• Interest in policy design and evaluation

Strong assets include:

• Experience with large-scale, geospatial, or text data
• Familiarity with causal machine learning
• Demonstrated interest in climate change, biodiversity, or sustainability policy

What you can expect

• Innovative and stimulating working conditions in an interdisciplinary, international research environment
• Office kitchen with complimentary basic supplies
• Climate Ticket Upper Austria (optimal public transportation connections)
• We offer a gross salary in line with the FWF salary rate of EUR 2.832,10 (30h).
• Optional supplementary contracts (teaching or research) up to 10 hours may be discussed during the hiring process.

How to apply

Please fill in the online application form and upload your files at:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas (or equivalent)
• Bachelor's and Master’s Transcript of Records
• Motivational letter (max. 2 pages)
• Up to 3 contacts of professors/collaborators for recommendations

We look forward to receiving your online application.

*Come as you are – we value and promote diversity in our team. Everyone is encouraged to reach their full potential, realize ideas and seize opportunities. Regardless of age, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or origin, we welcome applications from all people equally.

Location: Linz

Contact person

Bettina Mairhofer (she/her)
Teamlead for Student Administration
[e-mail]