Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research Empas around 1100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.
Within the framework of the SWEET CoSi project (Co-Evolution and Coordinated Simulation of the Swiss Energy System and Swiss Society) we are seeking a motivated and qualified PhD candidate to develop neighbourhood- and district-scale energy system models that incorporate a stronger Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) perspective. By embedding societal dynamics such models aim to capture a wider range of future uncertainties and insights beyond conventional techno-economic approaches.
Your tasks
The focus of this research is to advance energy system models by systematically embedding Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) aspects such as household decision-making willingness to invest adoption of renewable energy technologies and social acceptance of innovations. The goal of the PhD is to develop validation methods best practices and datasets tailored for energy system models with integrated SSH components.
A key validation environment for this work will be Empas NEST demonstrator a vertical energy district and living lab that enables real-world testing of technologies and behavioral assumptions. The candidate will be expected to translate research ideas into practical approaches to address these challenges working closely with our interdisciplinary team and external academic and industry partners.
Your profile
You are a highly motivated and dedicated candidate with a Masters degree in Engineering or a related field. You bring interdisciplinary expertise on energy transitions with a solid understanding of renewable energy integration multi-energy systems and energy conversion and storage technologies. You have strong programming modelling and data analysis skills. Experience with formulating and solving mathematical optimization problems is an asset. Proficiency in English is required; good comprehension and oral skills in German are desirable.
Our offer
We offer a multifaceted and challenging position in a modern research environment with excellent infrastructure. The PhD candidate is intended to be enrolled at the Renewable Energy Systems group at the University of Geneva (Prof. Evelina Trutnevyte) pending formal approval. The ideal starting date is October 2025 or upon mutual agreement.
We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation CV certificates diplomas and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.
PatriciaNitzscheStv. Leiterin Human Resources / Dep. Head Human Resources
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