Research Associate / Ph.D. position (m/f/d)

Kelso Institute Europe; Berlin; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 70.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

An established academic institution is seeking a Research Associate for an exciting Ph.D. opportunity in the dynamic field of renewable energy and financial participation. This role involves conducting innovative research, collaborating on scientific publications, and engaging diverse communities through digital tools. The position offers a chance to contribute to impactful projects and develop professionally within a supportive and international academic environment. If you are passionate about making a difference in energy policy and community engagement, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Leistungen

Flexible Working Hours

Family-Friendly Environment

Collegial Guidance

Holistic Tasks at University

Qualifikationen

• Experience in energy economics research and well-versed in research methods.
• Knowledge of participatory methods and citizen dialogue.

Aufgaben

• Conduct own research projects in renewable energies and financial participation.
• Engage underrepresented groups & develop digital participation tools.

Kenntnisse

Research Methods

Communication Skills

Teamwork Skills

Interdisciplinary Understanding

Participatory Methods

Energy Economics

Statistical Analysis

Programming Skills (Python, R)

Ausbildung

University Degree in Economics, Law, or Political Sciences

Tools

MS Office

STATA

Python

R

Jobbeschreibung

The Kelso Professorship of Comparative Law, East European Business Law and European Legal Policy (Prof. Dr. iur. Jens Lowitzsch) at the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, European University Viadrina invites applications for the position of a

Research Associate / Ph.D. position (m/f/d)

(up to salary group 13 TV-L, half of the regular worktime, currently 20 hours per week)

for the period starting 1 July 2025 until 31 December 2027. The employment contract will be limited to two years and six months. The contract may be subject to prolongation or increase in the number of working hours depending on available funding.

The Foundation European University Viadrina aims at increasing the number of women in research and teaching and participates in the research-oriented gender equality standards of the German Research Foundation. Women with equivalent qualification shall be preferred.

Background

The Kelso Professorship of Comparative Law, East European Business Law and European Legal Policy endowed in 2010 at Viadrina has a strategic partnership with the Kelso Institute Europe (KIE), incorporated in 2020.

The KIE and the Kelso Professorship conduct studies on European legal policy with a special focus on the energy transition and consumer co-ownership, employee financial participation, ownership and privatisation, insolvency and restructuring, as well as financial crises and their impact on the welfare state. The research of the interdisciplinary team (economics, law, sociology, political science and engineering) is mostly financed by third-party funding. The Kelso Professorship and the Kelso Institute Europe organise events both in the context of our research activities and to communicate and disseminate results.

Context:

The Kelso Professorship is currently implementing the research & innovation project “Professionalisierung, Inklusion, Akzeptanz” (PIA - Professionalisation, Inclusion, Acceptance), which aims to investigate:

• How can all citizens (especially low-income groups and previously uninterested people) be informed and empowered to actively participate in energy communities?
• Which participation models and digital instruments with a solidarity-based approach can help to include as many citizens as possible, in an energy community?
• How can professional players from the energy sector (municipal utilities, ESCOs, etc.) be involved to ensure diversity of players and scalability of projects?
• How can electricity sharing be organised to ensure a transparent and fair value sharing in energy communities with heterogeneous stakeholders while keeping transaction cost low?

The research position is tendered with the possibility of writing a Ph.D. thesis on related topics.

Your tasks include

• Own research projects in the fields of renewable energies, financial participation, and acceptance of renewables in the context in the context of the PIA project which embraces:
• collaboration on related scientific publications;
• engagement of underrepresented groups & digital participation tools (e.g. platforms, apps);
• communication and networking with institutional partners and project partners.
• Other research tasks beyond the own research project, in particular coordination of proposals for third-party funded projects and their implementation;
• Co-management of daily tasks in KIE projects, including preparation and editing of deliverables, coordination with other consortium partners;
• Teaching at the chair of the Kelso-Professorship of the European University Viadrina;
• Public relations, participation in the organisation of scientific conferences; participation in the writing of project applications and project reports.

Your profile includes

• University degree either in economics, law or political sciences with a focus on renewables, energy policy, circular economy, renewable engineering, or similar.
• Experience in energy economics research and well-versed in research methods (qualitative and quantitative).
• Experience in developing scientific research and contributing to research articles (some experience in the research field is required) as well as in the editing of publications as regards content, style and layout.
• Very good communication skills in English in writing and speaking, proficient command of German and knowledge of other languages is desirable.
• Knowledge of participatory methods, energy communities, energy sharing, community building, and citizen dialogue.
• Confident and communicative appearance in contact with scientists, lecturers and partners from practice, business, culture and politics.
• Strong teamwork skills, intercultural competence and interdisciplinary understanding.
• Experience in the development, implementation and documentation of third-party funded interdisciplinary projects in a scientific and/or consulting context.
• Proficiency in statistics and econometric methods, an understanding of behavioural economics principles is of advantage.
• Experience with the development or support of digital tools or platforms is an advantage.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Office), skills in quantitative analysis and/or programming in one or more languages are of advantage (e.g., STATA, Python, R).

We offer you:

• Holistic tasks at a lively university with an international profile in the heart of Europe;
• Regular and collegial guidance by cooperation-oriented managers;
• A family-friendly university with a high life balance factor;
• Flexible working time models with a high degree of personal responsibility;

Within the framework of its equal opportunities concept, the Foundation European University Viadrina has set itself the strategic goal of significantly increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching and participates in the DFG's research-oriented equal opportunities standards. We therefore expressly invite female scientists to apply. The University supports its members in reconciling work and family life. It offers family-friendly study and working conditions. More information can be found at: (www.europa-uni.de/familie)

People with disabilities will be given priority if they are equally qualified and capable. It is advisable to already mention a possible disability in the application.

Please apply with the usual documents (cover letter, curriculum vitae, university transcript/grade record, other references) and compiled in a single PDF file until 30 May 2025 via e-mail to [e-mail]. The file will be deleted immediately after the selection procedure has been completed.