Postdoctoral position in Ecological Macroeconomics Modelling for a Post-Growth Deal

Offer description:

• A postdoctoral position at ICTA-UAB
• 3-year contract with a 6-month probational period.
• Salary: 35.000€ gross annual salary
• Starting date: June-September of 2024.

Project description:

We seek applications for an outstanding postdoctoral researcher to work with us on two exciting international collaboration projects. REAL is an ERC-Synergy project that aims to explore new models of provisioning systems, policies, and politics in a post-growth direction, in which universal human wellbeing is achieved within planetary boundaries – and removed from dependence on economic growth. ToBe (short for Towards a Sustainable Wellbeing Economy) is a Horizon Europe project that aims to develop integrated policies and transformative indicators for a post-growth economy.

Requirements:

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in Ecological/Environmental Economics, Energy Economics, or another field involving the modeling of the environment and society. Expertise in quantitative research methods and computer programming is essential. Previous modeling experience in ecological economics is desirable. Experience with stock-flow consistent models, agent-based modeling, social metabolism, or input-output models will also be valued. Note that we do not expect a single candidate to know all these areas.

Other requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Spanish or Catalan will be valued but is not required.
• Track record of research publications.
• The successful candidate will be able and committed to working both independently and collaboratively as part of the interdisciplinary teams of the REAL and ToBe projects.
• The position is full-time and based in Barcelona. Successful candidates will be supported in their travel to conferences and presentations.
• Ability to create and contribute to a well-functioning, inclusive, and productive research environment.

The position will be hosted at ICTA-UAB under the supervision of Dr. Jason Hickel; the candidate will also spend some time working with the modeling team at the University de Barcelona (one day per week). The candidates will work in close collaboration with the REAL project team at ICTA-UAB and the University of Lausanne (led by Jason Hickel, Giorgos Kallis and Julia Steinberger), and in collaboration with the ToBe project team at the University of Barcelona (led by Daniel W. O’Neill and Federico Demaria). The successful candidates will be supported in conducting a research stay at one of the other leading modeling teams in Europe if they so desire.

We are committed to advancing the careers of junior women researchers and researchers from under-represented backgrounds, who are encouraged to apply.

Expected tasks:

1. Collaborate on the design of policies for a post-growth deal (such as a job guarantee, universal public services, working-time reduction, and ending unequal exchange).
2. Contribute to developing an ecological macro-economic model of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries, to assess the impact of post-growth policies both nationally and internationally.
3. Contribute to the development of pathways for North-South convergence, enabling everyone to attain high levels of human well-being within the planetary boundaries.

How to apply:

Deadline: Sunday, May 5th, 2024, 23:59 CET
Start date: June-September 2024 (Successful candidates should participate in the project kick-off in Pontevedra, Spain, between June 14^th and June 16^th).
Salary: Approximately €35,000 per year

How to apply: Please submit your CV, transcripts from previous degrees, and a motivation letter to Dr Jason Hickel at postgrowth.call@gmail.com by May 5th, 2024, 23:59 CET. The subject of your email should be: “Application for the REAL postdoctoral position on ecological macroeconomics.” In your motivation letter, we would like you to present a short outline of a research approach to address the following challenge:

One potential risk of degrowth in high-income economies is that reduced demand could inadvertently harm lower-income economies that depend on exports to high-income economies. This problem may be resolved so that global South countries can re-organize production around local needs, national development, and South-South trade.  This raises two questions.  First, how could an existing eco-eco model (e.g., EUROGREEN) be modified to explore these dynamics in the case of a global South economy? Could it enable us to identify useful policy choices? Second, how could an international model be designed to explore the North-South dynamics in such a scenario?

The motivation letter should have a maximum of 1000 words.

Please ask two referees to submit your reference letters directly to ecoeco.reference@gmail.com by May 5^th, 2024, 23:59 CET. The subject of their emails should be: “Reference for YOUR NAME for REAL position.”

Online interviews of shortlisted candidates will be held in the third or fourth weeks of May 2024.