Phd candidate - Generative Agent-Based Modeling for Climate Policy Design

Tecnun - Escuela de Ingeniería-Universidad de Navarra; Donostia/San Sebastián; On-site; EUR 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded PhD (stipend)

Job summary

TECNUN, the School of Engineering of the University of Navarra, in Spain, invites applications for a fully funded PhD Researcher position in AI, operations research and policy modelling. The role focuses on Generative Agent-Based Modelling and Simulation Optimization to inform climate action and resilience.

You will join the Resilience research group under supervisors Josune Hernantes and Sahar Elkady, contribute to publications, teaching activities, and proposal development while pursuing your

Qualifications

• MSc degree in Computer Science, Operations Research, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Computational Social Science, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in computational modelling, simulation or optimization techniques.
• Programming proficiency in Python; experience with LLM frameworks, prompt engineering, or agent-based frameworks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research towards the doctoral thesis and publish in high-quality, international journals.
• Contribute to development and execution of research projects and proposals for funding.
• Participate in seminars, teach as a teaching assistant, and support examinations as needed.

Skills

Computational modelling

Simulation

Optimization

Python programming

ML/LLMs/NLP

Education

MSc in Computer Science, OR, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Computational Social Science or related field

Tools

LLM frameworks

Job description

Fully Funded PhD Opportunity at TECNUN, the School of Engineering of the University of Navarra, Spain

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD Researcher to join our team for a 3- to 4-year fully funded PhD opportunity. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Operations Research, and Policy Modelling to build advanced decision-support tools for climate action and disaster resilience.

The candidate will be part of the Resilience research group at TECNUN, which focuses on understanding and strengthening the resilience of communities, cities, and organizations in the face of disruptions and crises. The group combines engineering, data-driven approaches, and decision-support methodologies, with research spanning areas such as urban resilience, crisis management, infrastructure, and emerging technologies such as AI and LLMs.

The PhD candidate will join this research environment under the supervision of Professor Josune Hernantes and Dr. Sahar Elkady.

About the Project

This PhD project focuses on developing a novel decision-support framework that combines Generative Agent-Based Modelling (GABM) with Simulation Optimization. The primary goal is to simulate how diverse societal stakeholders (e.g., citizens, businesses, and public authorities) interact, perceive, and respond to climate-related policies. By integrating LLM-driven generative agents into an optimization loop, the project aims to help decision-makers design robust policies that balance environmental targets with public acceptance and social legitimacy.

Main duties and responsibilities

The PhD candidate will conduct research leading to the development of their doctoral thesis, with the aim of disseminating their findings through high-quality publications in highly ranked, internationally recognized journals. The candidate will be expected to take an active role in the development and execution of research projects related to their research topic, as well as contribute to the preparation and submission of research proposals and funding applications.

The candidate should also be willing to actively participate in seminars, workshops, meetings, and other activities organized by the Department and the research group. As part of the responsibilities established in the PhD student agreement, the candidate will be expected to contribute to teaching activities, including serving as a teaching assistant in selected courses and proctoring examinations. These responsibilities are intended to provide the candidate with broader academic and professional development alongside their research activities.

• Education: MSc degree in Computer Science, Operations Research, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Computational Social Science, or a closely related field.
• Technical Skills:
• Solid background in computational modelling, simulation, or optimization techniques.
• Programming proficiency in Python (experience with LLM frameworks, prompt engineering, or agent-based frameworks is a strong plus).
• Familiarity with machine learning, Large Language Models (LLMs), or natural language processing.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical problem-solving abilities, excellent writing skills for scientific publications, and the ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team.

For further information or queries, please contact Sahar Elkady at [e-mail].

About the University

The University of Navarra is an international University committed to quality teaching and excellence in research. It occupies the 3rd position in the Europe Teaching Ranking 2019 by Times Higher Education and Elsevier. The University was founded on the basis of Catholic principles by St. Josemaría Escrivá and is a corporate work of Opus Dei. It supports the professional development of its faculty and staff, promotes cultural engagement and social outreach through collaboration with NGOs and charitable organizations, and encourages service-learning initiatives. Employment opportunities are offered fairly, with all qualified candidates considered equally.

The School of Engineering (TECNUN) is home to approximately 1,200 students and is located in Donostia-San Sebastián, a vibrant and picturesque city on Spain’s northern Basque coast. As an academic institution, TECNUN conducts fundamental research across a broad range of engineering disciplines while also fostering strong links between academic research and real-world applications. In this context, TECNUN collaborates closely with CEIT, a non-profit applied research Centre founded by the University of Navarra in 1982. This partnership facilitates the transfer of scientific knowledge into innovative technological solutions and strengthens the connection between fundamental research, applied research, and industrial needs.