Decarbonisation requires a fundamental transformation of society, leading also to substantial changes in resource demand. Projecting future resource use and trade relationships as a function of different climate and environmental policy can help provide insights in resource scarcity and related energy demand.

Your job
The ENTICE project aims to investigate the relationships between climate and environmental policy and the trade of various resources. On the one hand, resource consumption is a major cause of energy demand. At the same time, climate policy leads to significant changes in the energy system, influencing future resource demand (for instance, an increased demand for specific metals used in batteries). Both relationships are intriguing. For instance, as greenhouse gas emissions are mostly associated with the production of materials, changes in trade patterns also result in changes in emissions across countries. Other important dimensions include security of supply, identification of resource bottlenecks, and possible environmental implications of trade.

The aim of this PhD position is to further develop the IMAGE integrated assessment model, focusing on the trade of various resources. The IMAGE integrated assessment model is used to describe future energy and land use systems in relation to sustainable development problems. The new work on resource trade will collaborate with and add to the existing focus on the demand for various materials.

As the work is part of a larger research project funded by the European Union, you are expected to collaborate with researchers in the IMAGE team and at other institutes in Europe. You will work as a member of the IMAGE research group at Utrecht University (in collaboration with PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency), under the guidance of Dr Vassilis Daioglou and Prof Dr Detlef van Vuuren.

You must have completed a Master’s in environmental sciences, environmental economics or a related discipline. We seek candidates with a passion for quantitative, integrated assessment research that are enthusiastic to make a contribution to this interdisciplinary field. The ideal candidate:

• is are interested in the question how current trade patterns may relate to climate policy and has the skills to analyse this;
• has an collaborative attitude and good command of spoken and written English;
• is able to contribute to effective cooperation with colleagues and collaboration partners in the research project;
• is familiar with modelling, preferably using python, and is inclined towards working with and further developing models.
• is well able to present their work to colleagues.

We offer:

• a position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2.770 and €3.539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

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Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.