Jobs & fellowships

31.10.24

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Max Plank Institute for Demographic Research

The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) is seeking to appoint a full-time post-doctoral researcher to join the ERC-funded Research Group on Migration and Health Inequalities. The group, led by Silvia Loi, brings together experts from Demography, Quantitative Sociology, and Social Epidemiology to address the pressing scientific and societal question: Why do immigrants age in poorer health compared to non-immigrants? We are seeking a creative, self-driven, collaborative scholar with a strong quantitative background that can contribute to advancing one or more of these three research areas:

1. quantify the gaps in healthy ageing trajectories between immigrants and non-immigrants by age, gender, socioeconomic status, and their interactions;
2. identify the critical events and circumstances in immigrants’ lives that put them on a different healthy ageing trajectory from non-immigrants;
3. study the impact of family composition and family ties in mitigating health inequalities by migration background.

We provide a stimulating research-oriented community, excellent infrastructure at the MPIDR, and an institutional culture that enables everyone to develop their individual skills and competencies. The MPIDR is one of the leading demographic research centers in the world, studying issues of theoretical and policy relevance. These include, but are not limited to mortality, fertility, migration, aging, health, and the redistribution of work and transfers over the life course. The MPIDR is part of the Max Planck Society, a network of 86 institutes that form Germany’s premier basic-research organization. Max Planck Institutes have an established record of world-class, foundational research in the sciences, technology, social sciences, and the humanities.

The successful candidate must have a PhD (or receive it soon) in Demography, Sociology, Social Epidemiology or related fields, a strong quantitative background and is expected to have a profile along at least one of the following lines:

1. Migrant health
2. Social determinants of health
3. Social inequalities
4. Measuring and modelling life-course processes

Application Deadline: 31 October 2024

No deadline mentioned

2 PhD students - Assessing Policies for Net Zero Technologies

ETH Zurich, Group for Sustainability and Technology (SusTec)

The Group for Sustainability and Technology (SusTec) at ETH Zurich's Department of Management, Technology, and Economics investigates organizational, technological, and institutional change in different sectors focusing on energy, decarbonization, and the circular economy. They approach their research from two complementary perspectives: at the system level, examining how public policy shapes innovation and the diffusion of sustainable technologies; and at the firm level, exploring corporate strategies and organizational dynamics.

They are expanding their research on public policies for clean fuels and invite applications for:

2 PhD Students in Policies for Net Zero Technologies (100%)

Project background

The two PhD projects investigate policies to speed up the development of supply chains for net zero technologies, like renewable hydrogen. The research will cover national, regional, and global scales and assess policy outcomes such as technology diffusion, job creation, and security of energy supply.

The first PhD project will evaluate various pathways for renewable hydrogen supply chains in Switzerland, to inform future energy policies.

The second PhD project will develop and apply a novel modeling framework, combining agent-based modeling with energy system modeling to simulate supply chains for net zero technologies.

Job description

We expect your research to be scientifically rigorous and relevant to policymakers and managers. You will collaborate closely with other researchers at our chair and interact with policymakers, managers, and other stakeholders. As an integral part of your work, you will publish your results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and outreach outlets. You will also supervise master students and support the group’s teaching.

Your work will contribute to advancing knowledge in policies for net zero technologies, with a focus on both academic and real-world impact.

No deadline mentioned

No deadline mentioned

Group Leader for Transdisciplinary Teaching and Research in Sustainability Sciences

ETH Zurich

The Transdisciplinarity Lab (TdLab) develops and implements transdisciplinary teaching and research to support the sustainable development of society. Transdisciplinarity for us means to collaborate with multiple disciplines and sectors of society to address societal problems. TdLab is part of the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS).

Job description

The 80-100% position consists of approx. 50% teaching, 40% research and 10% services. We seek a candidate with expertise in transdisciplinary teaching and research. The candidate’s research topic should fall within the broader field of transformative sustainability research. The specific focus (e.g. climate, land use, justice, conservation, etc.) will depend on the candidate’s profile. You will

• lead the Transdisciplinary Case Study of both MSc degree programmes of agricultural sciences and environmental sciences,
• design and implement transdisciplinary research projects,
• develop your own BSc/MSc course in your specific area of focus,
• supervise Bachelor and Master theses,
• contribute to TdLab’s development jointly with the team.

The position is currently limited to 6 years. Start of employment is in the second quarter of 2025.

Profile

• You are experienced in project-based, interactive, and student-centred teaching and learning.
• You are conceptually strong in transdisciplinary research and experienced in transdisciplinary methods.
• You have a doctorate of sustainability or environmental studies, or related fields.
• You thrive in interdisciplinary collaborations and engagement with different societal actors.
• You are committed to implement, challenge and further develop transdisciplinary teaching and research.
• Very good oral and written German and English skills are a prerequisite.

No deadline mentioned

No Deadline mentioned

Senior Director, RIC

Northwestern University

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University has committed to developing the world’s leading institute on complexity science with a focus on business research through the newly created Ryan Institute on Complexity (RIC).  The RIC will comprise a revolutionary research lab designed to change the way business, markets and societal issues are studied, combining multidisciplinary talents and quantitative sciences in new ways to tackle bigger problems faster. The RIC will place Kellogg and Northwestern at the forefront of solving increasingly complex societal, business, and market challenges by harnessing the power of big data and artificial intelligence.  The RIC was recently funded by a $25M gift from the Ryan Family Foundation and is in the stage of forming its administrative structure.

The Senior Director of the Ryan Institute on Complexity (RIC) will focus on providing strategic leadership, attracting novel funding streams, and supporting faculty in their research and curricular endeavors within the Institute and its research centers and laboratories.  The Senior Director will work closely with the Faculty Co-directors of the Institute and the home institution for grants and awards. 

Please note: Occasional weekends and evenings as requested and with some possible travel, as required.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Fundraising

• Partner with Faculty Co-directors to provide the strategic direction of the Institute in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with complex and changing initiatives and priorities.
• Provide oversight and direction for high-priority projects and initiatives for the Institute.
• Attract novel funding streams and grant funding utilizing collaborative efforts with various grant funding institutions.
• Write, edit, and develop new funding proposals to support the initiatives of the Institute.

Programmatic and Operational Leadership

• Partner with Faculty Co-directors to create a governance structure for the Institute, hire staff, and foster a culture of strong organizational performance.
• Oversee the management of the RIC staff, researchers, faculty, and visiting scholars.
• Direct operations of the Institute and drive efficiency.
• Oversees the Institute’s annual budgeting and financial management processes.

External Engagement, Communication and Outreach

• Build research collaborations internally across Northwestern and externally with related organizations and associates to further the RIC as a globally recognized Institute.
• Leverage the RIC platform to encourage local and global participation through signature conferences and visiting scholars. 
• Collaborate with alumni, industry leaders, and other partners to bring real world examples and experience to the labs.
• Oversee all Institute communications, including the website, newsletters, and social media to further the Institute’s brand and reputation.
• Represents Kellogg to external audiences of potential participants, partners, and supporters, working with a wide variety of clients and partners to ensure the Ryan Institute is at the center of quantitative approach to problem-solving on campus, locally and globally. 

Faculty & Research Support

• Launch and execute curricular courses/programs in Executive Education and/or the MBA or PhD programs, as opportunities arise.
• Hire, on-board, and support visiting experts and associate faculty, researchers, and scholars.

No Deadline mentioned

Open unitl filled

Postdoctoral Researcher in Humanitarian Design

University of Copenhagen

The Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the project “The Future of Humanitarian Design (HUD)”. Led by Associate Professor Jonathan Luke Austin, this project aims to address contemporary humanitarian challenges through the integration of emerging technologies, aesthetic design processes, and engineering insights with knowledge from international relations. The successful candidate will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and contribute to innovative research focused on improving conditions for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Job Description:

• Conduct research as part of the HUD project, focusing on the intersection of humanitarian challenges, emerging technologies, and design processes
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners from academic institutions and humanitarian organizations
• Travel to relevant field sites, including Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to conduct research and engage with local communities
• Pursue independent research related to project themes and personal interests
• Contribute to project publications, reports, and presentations

Early appplication is encouraged, position is open until filled