Postdoc position in Innovation and Sustainability Transitions

Department of Food and Resource Economics invites applicants for a 3.5 year Postdoc position in Innovation and Sustainability Transitions. The position is funded by the research project Building cross-sectoral carbon value chains to realize urgent net-zero transitions (CARBONCHAINS), managed by Associate Professor, Allan Dahl Andersen, and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 May 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Most scenarios for net-zero transitions involve a significant role for new types of carbon management including carbon capture and storage (CCS) which aim at capturing CO2 from large-scale emission points to be stored underground, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) which aims to utilize CO2 in new products and business models as e-fuels, materials, or chemical feedstocks, and new carbon dioxide removals (CDR) technologies which aims at removing emitted CO2 from the atmosphere e.g., through direct air capture.

A major challenge for advancing these solutions is to build new value chains across all three types of carbon management which requires novel cross-sectoral alignments in terms of actor strategies, technical solutions, and regulatory frameworks and standards as well as policy to drive investments and innovation. The challenge is further complicated by short timeline for deployment and scaling as the world’s carbon budget compatible with climate policy goals is rapidly shrinking.

The Postdoc will analyze the strategies, partnerships, and resources that leading actors (firms, universities, and agencies) from different sectors and countries deploy to build new cross-sectoral value chains.

In addition to the specific project, the Postdoc’s duties will include some teaching as well as participation in other related projects. The position may also include performance of other duties (e.g. supervision of BSc and MSc students).

The successful candidate should have:

• A PhD degree in a social science discipline, with relevance for the area of innovation and transition studies (including innovation studies; sustainability transitions studies; ; management studies; sociology, economics, human geography, etc.).
• High-level proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience with relevant theories and methods for studies of innovation and sustainability transitions, and innovation policy in particular, is an advantage.
• The ability to perform research work, demonstrated by previous publications is meritorious

Further information on the Department is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/ . Inquiries about the position can be made to Associate Professor Allan Dahl Andersen (email: [email protected] ).

Our group and research

The Postdoc will be located in the Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability Transitions (EIST) Group which carries out research on multiple analytical levels: from work on innovation and entrepreneurship processes at the (inter- and intra-) organizational level, to research on innovation systems and sustainability transitions in the sociotechnical systems. Group members engage in qualitative and quantitative research, aiming to contribute to theory development within innovation studies, organization and management studies, and sustainability transitions. The group is expanding activities in Sustainability transition studies with multiple positions including this Postdoc position.

The group is a part of Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO), Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. IFRO is a highly diverse social science department addressing critical questions related to the challenges society face with respect to protecting our planet, its climate, environment and life, ensuring human wellbeing, sustainable development and the sustainable transformation of global natural resource-based sectors like the agro-food sector, fishery, forestry, and energy. IFRO is located in the centre of Copenhagen and offers creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

Principal mentor is Associate Professor, Allan Dahl Andersen

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

Curriculum vitae

Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)

Research plan – description of current and future research plans (max 3 pages)

Complete publication list

Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers

Terms of employment
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 22 February 2024, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

Start date is (expected to be) May 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The further process

An assessment committee will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements, and to identify the most qualified applicants that will be invited for an interview.

The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held early March 2024.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.