3 PhD Positions in GREENING THE AFRICAN ENERGY LADDER

Job description

Successful candidates will conduct economic research in the area of renewable energy in Africa. The emphasis will be on empirical economic applications, guided by theory and policy analysis. Within this area, the candidates will have certain degrees of freedom for developing her or his own research topic. The research project will lead to completion of a PhD thesis. The project is embedded in the IS Academy on Renewable Energy (ReNeW) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation (DGIS). ReNeW is a collaboration between IVM, the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), and the Department of Environment and Water of the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation (DGIS).

This study investigates how policy makers and industry can promote the use of renewable energy in developing countries with the goal to improve access to affordable energy, reduce poverty and increase energy security at the national level while contributing to climate mitigation at the international level. We seek three PhD researchers each addressing one of the following tasks.
• Research theme I: Design commercially viable business models for the introduction of renewable energy in poor rural environments, in particular regarding financing structures, marketing strategies and technological specifications.
• Research theme II: Analyse (ex-post) the impact of the renewable energy technologies on households, while also developing a domestic household energy demand model accounting for renewable and non-renewable energy adoption in the African context.
• Research theme III: Investigate the adoption and diffusion of renewable energy technologies in a selective number of African countries by applying an innovation systems perspective.

Requirements

University Graduate
The successful candidates are expected to have (1) affinity with issues of poverty and climate change with working experience in developing countries; (2) fluency in English (i.e. fluency in French will be considered an additional asset); (3) a cooperative attitude in different cultural environments; (4) an excellent academic background, including knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistics; and (5) the capacity to communicate results clearly to an wider audience. Depending on the research theme, the candidate should have:
• Research theme I: A master’s degree in economics or in engineering. Experience in market analysis and business development, particularly in poor, rural environments is an advantage;
• Research theme II: An economics degree at Masters level (2 years research master degree in economics, econometrics, or related disciplines) with a strong afinity for environmental economics.
• Research theme III: A Masters degree in economics or political studies with experience of institutional analysis.
Additional information about the job:
The initial contract offered is for a period of 12 months, extendable to 3 years upon a
positive evaluation. The salary is based on the salary scales for academic staff. You can
find more information about our fringe benefits of employment at www.vu.nl/vacatures.
The envisaged starting date is November 1, 2009.

The position provides access to (1) an international research network with possibilities to collaborate in several African countries; (2) a national and international network of policymakers and industry experts, and the possibility to benefit from insights at the policy and industry level via various events organized by ReNeW; (3) local research facilities at VU University, ECN and DGIS.

Organization

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences at VU University Amsterdam has three vacancies for PhD research positions at the Institute of Environmental Studies (IVM) in the department of Environmental Economics. The department has an outstanding track record for research in applied and empirical environmental economic fields, including economic valuation, poverty and the environment, policy instruments and economic modelling.

Conditions of employment

Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000

Maximum salary amount in Euro’s a month 2612
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 12 months extendable to 3 years upon a positive evaluation
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The gross salary is minimum € 2.042,- in the first year and maximum € 2.612,- in the fourth year, based on full-time employment. The employment will have to result in a written thesis by the end of this period.

Additional Information

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

* About the organization
* About the function

Application

You can apply for this job before 14-09-2009 by sending your application to:

Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1085
dr. P. Pieter van Beukering
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
the Netherlands
E-mail address: beukering@ivm.vu.nl
A scoping paper describing in more detail the research programme and its context will be made available to candidates via the following webaddress:
http://www.ivm.vu.nl/en/projects/Departments/economics/Renew/index.asp
For further information contact dr. Pieter van Beukering (e-mail: beukering@ivm.vu.nl,
phone: +31-20-59 89524).

Application
Written applications should include: a CV, a covering letter motivating interest in the project explicitly indicating which of the three research questions is of particular interest, as well as two letters of recommendation sent directly by referees in separate mail. Please mention the vacancy number in the e-mail header or on top of the letter and envelope. Please send your application before September 15th 2009 to VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences,
Dr. J.M.R.M. Neutelings, Managing Director, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam,
The Netherlands or by e-mail to falw-vacatures@falw.vu.nl, with the vacancy number on the letter and the envelope, or in the e-mail subject line.
When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number AT 1.2006.00231.