PhD Researcher – Faculty of Social Sciences – Department of Globalization and Politics (University of Kassel)

At the University of Kassel

The following position is to be filled:

Faculty of Social Sciences – Department of Globalization and Politics (Dr. Franziska Müller and Prof. Dr. Christoph Scherrer) – Subject to approval – starting on 01.09.2017

The research group GLOCALPOWER (funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) analyzes glocal energy transitions from the perspectives of global/local environmental governance and international political economy of energy, This is done on a global level (with regard to global green finance and the international donor community) and on a local level through case studies in Ghana, South Africa, and Zambia, which represent different energy transition paths under conditions of postcolonial statehood. We focus on two central aspects that orchestrate the shape and structures of these green transformations: (1) the systemic and up to now scarcely acknowledged role of global green funds for a renewable energy transformation; and (2) the design, appropriateness and impact of political toolsets for managing an energy transition on a glocal level, such as feed-in tariffs, risk mitigation tools or forms of capacity building and stakeholder trainings. Analyzing energy transition processes in these states will contribute to knowledge production on global change in the African context. A final transfer project aims at disseminating systematic and transformative knowledge on glocal energy transitions with a high level of African ownership and an emancipatory use of RE technologies.

The research group offers two positions for PhD researchers with a background in international relations/global governance resp. global political economy.

PhD Researcher (EG 13 TV-H)

Part-time position with 50% of the working hours of a full-time employee, This is a fixed term-position ending on 31.08.2021 (position for academic qualification corresponding to § 2 Abs. 2 WissZeitVG; opportunity for PhD project).The position is announced subject to the final regulatory approval by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Tasks:

• Establishment of a research group on global energy transition policies
• Case studies on the political economy of energy transition processes in South Africa and Ghana, including extensive field research.
• Development of a PhD project closely related to the overall theme of the research group
• Cooperation in publications
• Design and realization of transdisciplinary stakeholder workshops
• Participation and presentation of research results at (inter)national conferences and workshops
• Teaching in English or German is encouraged
• Voluntary engagement in academic committees is encouraged

Candidates are expected to bring the following skills and expertise:

• Completed course of academic study (Master or Diploma degree) within the fields of Political Science / Social Sciences / Global Political Economy.
• Proven affinity with and aptitude for research on political ecology, research focus on International/Global Political Economy, Green Capitalism, Financialisation, Energy Policy or Development Studies, regional focus on Southern Africa or West Africa
• Ability and willingness to engage in field research
• Willingness to business travels both across Germany and abroad
• Expertise in qualitative research, knowledge of quantitative research methodology i.e. descriptive statistics
• Excellent communication skills, ability to work in a team, but also independently, intercultural competence
• Very good command of English, good working knowledge of German also desired

The following documents are requested: Cover letter, CV reflecting your research qualification, copies of relevant certificates such as M.A. certificate, writing sample (i.e. MA Thesis or article), brief abstract of your PhD project (500 words max.), name and address of two academic references.  Please apply via email only.

For any enquiries concerning your application please contact Dr. Franziska Müller, E-Mail: fmueller@uni-kassel.de or Prof. Dr. Scherrer, E-Mail: scherrer@uni-kassel.de.

The University of Kassel strives for equal opportunity of employment of men and women and for the adjustment of existing disproportions concerning the employment of women in teaching and research positions. Qualified women are thus encouraged to apply. Handicapped candidates will be given preference, all else being equal. Applications with the usual documentation should be sent before the deadline and referring to the number stated above to the President, University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany or electronically to bewerbungen@uni-kassel.de.