PhD Researcher in Degrowth-compatible battery value-chain (Cáceres, Spain)

European Commission; España; Presencial; EUR 25.000 - 35.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The European Commission is seeking a PhD researcher for the DELaw Project, focusing on integrating degrowth principles into energy law. The role involves interdisciplinary analysis of EU energy law, particularly concerning battery value chains, requiring a master's degree and strong analytical skills.

Formación

• Master’s degree in relevant engineering or ecology field required.
• Experience in LCA, SLCA and/or MFA is valued.
• Programming experience and skills in quantitative modelling preferred.

Responsabilidades

• Assess criticality of battery materials based on demand forecasts.
• Conduct life cycle assessment (LCA) and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA).
• Collaborate with DElaw researchers and write publications.

Conocimientos

Quantitative modelling

Analysis

Excellent oral and written skills in English

Knowledge of legal aspects or public policies

Ability to work in a diverse and flexible environment

Educación

Master’s degree in industrial, energy, materials or environmental engineering, or in industrial ecology

Descripción del empleo

Environmental science » Natural resources management

Technology » Energy technology

Technology » Mining

Organisation/Company CIIAE Research Field Engineering » Industrial engineering Engineering » Other Environmental science » Natural resources management Technology » Energy technology Technology » Mining Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 8 Jun 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number 101163065 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

PhD Researcher Contract associated with the DELaw Project with reference number 101163065 within the EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL program (STARTING GRANT 2024)

DELaw is a deeply interdisciplinary project mobilising law, social sciences and engineering. The final aim of DELaw is to find ways to integrate the principles of degrowth into the law, in order to reorientate our society at the required scale and pace to reduce the impact of climate change and other environmental harms. To do so, DELaw’s team (counting 7 researchers in total) will undertake an ambitious comparative interdisciplinary analysis of EU and Member States’ energy law, with a focus on the legal regime for energy storage and especially batteries.

In this position, the selected candidate will model the impacts of the legal solutions proposed within DElaw on the global battery value-chain (variations in mineral extraction, related energy consumption and CO2 emissions, the impact of reuse and recycling, etc.). This will involve an analysis relying on (social) life cycle assessment (S-LCA), material flow analysis and criticality.

More broadly, the position will imply working on the translation of detailed legal proposals into models (e.g. how to quantify the impact of a given legal proposal on material flows).

The selected candidate is expected to perform the following tasks:
-Assessment of criticality of battery materials (lithium, copper, etc.) based on demand forecasts and availability
-Life cycle assessment (LCA) and Social Life cycle assessment (S-LCA)
-Material flow analysis (MFA)
-Work with the other DElaw researchers to find appropriate ways to integrate legal measures into models
-Support the rest of DELaw team with technical knowledge about batteries’ value chain
-Collaborate closely with colleagues from different disciplines at CIIAE, e.g., technology developers and other energy system modellers
-Write publications as first author


Reference of the position on website: JOB OFFER: DELaw Project (HYDROGEN AND POWER-TO-X) DOE nº 94 Pre-doctoral researcher in value chains compatible with Degrowth

Degree requirement: A master’s degree in industrial, energy, materials or environmental engineering, or in industrial ecology, or similar.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Engineering Years of Research Experience None

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Phase 1:

Criterion 1: Academic background. Up to 20 points
-A master’s degree in industrial, materials or environmental engineering, in industrial ecology, or similar
-Research or teaching experience in LCA, SLCA and/or MFA

Criterion 2: Programming experience and proven skills in quantitative modelling and analysis. Up to 10 points

Criterion 3: Cross-cutting competences. Up to 14 points
-Subcriterion 3.1: Excellent oral and written skills in English. Up to 5 points
-Subcriterion 3.2: Knowledge and/or interest in legal aspects or public policies. Up to 5 points
-Subcriterion 3.3: Ability to work in a diverse and flexible academic environment both as a team-player, and independently. Up to 2 points
-Subcriterion 3.4: Ability to respect deadlines. Up to 2 points

Criterion 4: To be valued. Up to 16 points
-Subcriterion 4.1: Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) included in the application (highlighting your interest and qualification for the topic and for the research to be undertaken). Up to 4 points
-Subcriterion 4.2: Grades in master's and bachelor's degrees (documents to be included in the application). Up to 5 points
-Subcriterion 4.3: Quality of a related academic work (e.g.: a Master’s thesis on the value chain of electrical components). Up to 3 points
-Subcriterion 4.4: Interest for degrowth or related theories (sufficiency, circular economy, energy justice, etc.). Up to 3 points
-Subcriterion 4.5: Knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese. Up to 1 point

Phase 2:

Criterion 1: Match between the candidate’s profile and the position’s requirements. Up to 20 points

Criterion 2: Knowledge about energy storage sector and technologies. Up to 10 points

Criterion 3: Language. Up to 6 points
-Subcriterion 3.1: English proficiency. Up to 4 points
-Subcriterion 3.2: Spanish or Portuguese proficiency. Up to 2 points

Criterion 4: Interest of the candidate to join the organisation in Cáceres and the specific project. Up to 4 points

Selection process

Phase 1 based on candidate's documents. Phase 2 consists in an oral interview.

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute CIIAE - Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage Country Spain State/Province Extremadura City Cáceres Postal Code 10003 Street Escuela Politécnica Geofield