The NEON project: 5 PhD positions to accelerate the energy transition.
The NEON project: 5 PhD positions to accelerate the energy transition.
You cannot apply for this job anymore (deadline was 31 Oct 2020).
Browse the current job offers or choose an item in the top navigation above.
Job description
NEON 'lights the way to zero emission energy and mobility'. If you become a researcher within NEON you will be actively involved in solving the interrelated challenges of climate, energy and mobility. NEON does this in close collaboration with companies and policy makers. Key to NEON is an interdisciplinary approach combining social, economic and technological expertise. In addition to producing excellent science, NEON aims at a large societal impact. One of the ways this will done is by publishing an annual New Energy Outlook for the Netherlands, which analyses the current state of the renewable energy and smart mobility transitions and summarizes all the research done within the project over the past year.
At TU/e we are inviting applications to join the NEON team.
Vacancy B (1 PhD position) Technical standards to accelerate the energy transition
This project aims to create better understanding on how the transition to sustainable energy and mobility can be supported and accelerated by the use of technical standards. The expectation is that the relevant solutions in these fields will not be isolated ones but will be based on connectivity and interoperability. This is best facilitated by the development and adoption appropriate technical standards. But if the market fails to develop these, we may see the rise monopolies in one or even more layers in the value chain, instead of a healthy market. Here, not only the availability of standards matters, but also their adoption, and the legal/political framework. In close collaboration with other researchers in the NEON project, and close consultation with stakeholders, the candidate will identify the need for standards in relevant areas. Using insights from the evolving literature as well as extensive data collection, the candidate will carry out three critical case studies on the development adoption, identify possible obstacles, and develop policy recommendations. As an example, a case study could focus on vehicle-to-vehicle communications, where two different standards have been developed, but where the car industry and others are very divided of which one is be used, and where European legislators are considering to make one of the standards mandatory (which is an unusual step, but deemed necessary by some to ensure interoperability). Other examples include DC power distribution) and WP6 (medium voltage chargers). Other contemporary examples include standards for (DC) power grids, for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power, smart charging and medium voltage chargers, and IoT in relation to mobility and energy. Intensive collaboration between the TU/e and stakeholder, standards bodies, and regulators, facilitate the candidate in carrying out this research. For this position we are looking for candidates with a background in Innovation studies, Innovation management, Economics, or Sustainable energy technologies. Candidates who worked on technical standards during their Master are especially welcomed to apply.
Organisation
The above PhD projects are embedded in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). TU/e is one of the world's leading research universities (ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement). It is in particular well‐known for its joint research with industry (ranked number one worldwide by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies).
Within the Department IE&IS you will be affiliated with the research group Technology, Innovation & Society (TIS). The TIS group of the School of Innovation Sciences is an ambitious, international group. Our research focuses on understanding the development and use of technology in a societal context. Our staff teaches in the BSc program 'Sustainable Innovation', and the MSc program 'Innovation Sciences', as well as in university-wide programs for engineering students.
The department of IE&IS has a strong national and international reputation for both basic research in the academic community and applied research with industry. You will have the opportunity to benefit from that environment and to contribute to the ongoing research.
At TU/e we are inviting applications to join the NEON team.
- Vacancy A (1 PhD position) The NEON project: Energy demand and new market models
- Vacancy B (1 PhD position) The NEON project: Technical standards to accelerate the energy transition
- Vacancy C (2 PhD positions) The NEON project: Modeling the energy and mobility transition
- Vacancy D (1 PhD position) The NEON project: Modeling and evaluating the environmental effects of the energy and mobility transition
Vacancy B (1 PhD position) Technical standards to accelerate the energy transition
This project aims to create better understanding on how the transition to sustainable energy and mobility can be supported and accelerated by the use of technical standards. The expectation is that the relevant solutions in these fields will not be isolated ones but will be based on connectivity and interoperability. This is best facilitated by the development and adoption appropriate technical standards. But if the market fails to develop these, we may see the rise monopolies in one or even more layers in the value chain, instead of a healthy market. Here, not only the availability of standards matters, but also their adoption, and the legal/political framework. In close collaboration with other researchers in the NEON project, and close consultation with stakeholders, the candidate will identify the need for standards in relevant areas. Using insights from the evolving literature as well as extensive data collection, the candidate will carry out three critical case studies on the development adoption, identify possible obstacles, and develop policy recommendations. As an example, a case study could focus on vehicle-to-vehicle communications, where two different standards have been developed, but where the car industry and others are very divided of which one is be used, and where European legislators are considering to make one of the standards mandatory (which is an unusual step, but deemed necessary by some to ensure interoperability). Other examples include DC power distribution) and WP6 (medium voltage chargers). Other contemporary examples include standards for (DC) power grids, for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power, smart charging and medium voltage chargers, and IoT in relation to mobility and energy. Intensive collaboration between the TU/e and stakeholder, standards bodies, and regulators, facilitate the candidate in carrying out this research. For this position we are looking for candidates with a background in Innovation studies, Innovation management, Economics, or Sustainable energy technologies. Candidates who worked on technical standards during their Master are especially welcomed to apply.
Organisation
The above PhD projects are embedded in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). TU/e is one of the world's leading research universities (ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement). It is in particular well‐known for its joint research with industry (ranked number one worldwide by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies).
Within the Department IE&IS you will be affiliated with the research group Technology, Innovation & Society (TIS). The TIS group of the School of Innovation Sciences is an ambitious, international group. Our research focuses on understanding the development and use of technology in a societal context. Our staff teaches in the BSc program 'Sustainable Innovation', and the MSc program 'Innovation Sciences', as well as in university-wide programs for engineering students.
The department of IE&IS has a strong national and international reputation for both basic research in the academic community and applied research with industry. You will have the opportunity to benefit from that environment and to contribute to the ongoing research.
Specifications
- max. 38 hours per week
- Eindhoven View on Google Maps
:fill(white)/logos/tue-en-wide_acOLN2b.png)
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
Requirements
The ideal advanced students for this program will have a strong, demonstrated capacity to undertake advanced study in technology- and policy-related fields, with a high level of accomplishment in their Master's level study. More specifically, NEON PhD candidates:
- hold a relevant Master's degree (see details above).
- have good communication skills and command of written and spoken English
- are reliable, can work and deliver timely both independently and in a team, and have strong organisational skills and a pro-active work attitude.
Conditions of employment
- You are part of the NEON 'family' of over 30 PhD students that support each other and work together. Physical and virtual facilities and activities and support are organised to facilitate this.
- A full-time appointment for a period of 4 years at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). With an intermediate evaluation after nine months
- Gross monthly salary from € 2.395 (gross in the first year) to € 3.061 per month (last year).
- TU/e offers an additional 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
- An attractive package of fringe benefits, including a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program), and excellent sport facilities.
- You are part of the NEON family.
Furthermore, the project support its PhD students through job-crafting, monthly coaching and co-creation workshops and a shared 'innovation space' where all researchers come together at least once a week to create a truly and well-integrated multidisciplinary team, all working towards the shared goal of accelerating the sustainability transition.
