Overview
IT:U is a new technical university in Austria (Linz) dedicated to digital transformation, driven by interdisciplinary research and project-based learning to actively shape this transformation and advance it with a solution-oriented approach.
Department description
The energy transition toward climate neutrality is one of the defining challenges of our time, calling for bright minds to develop and evaluate technological and policy solutions. Join our new research group, Energy Transition and Climate Futures, and help generate the scientific insights that will guide the transformation. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in one or several of the following areas: steel or chemical-sector transformation, hydrogen, renewable energy systems, green industrial value chains and trade, global industrial transformation, material flows, deep electrification, and climate and industrial policy. For more details on our research areas, please visit the research group page. This role is not primarily focused on software development, but on conceptual framing, literature synthesis, techno-economic and policy analysis, scenario design and interpretation, scientific writing, and stakeholder-oriented communication. The successful candidate should nevertheless be comfortable with conducting their own data analysis and engaging with quantitative evidence, model results, and interdisciplinary research.
THE RESEARCH TEAM: Our group at IT:U is small but rapidly growing. Currently, it consists of Prof. Dr. Falko Ueckerdt and three PhD researchers. Before joining IT:U in 2026, Falko Ueckerdt co-led the Energy Transition Lab at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, where he built up a highly productive research team on hydrogen and heavy industry. IT:U is a highly innovative academic institution with a strong focus on data-intensive research, computational methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The researchers in our group benefit from strong ties to leading research institutions (e.g., Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Fraunhofer ISI, Technical University Berlin, University of Oxford, Monash University, Tsinghua University). You will closely cooperate with international partners and have opportunities for research stays abroad.
Your tasks and responsibilities:
The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to contribute to several of the following areas:
* Publish high-impact scientific papers on energy-intensive industry transformation, hydrogen, steel, chemicals, renewable energy systems, green value chains and trade, climate and industrial policy (Nature, Science family journals or energy journals such as Joule)
* Develop conceptual contributions and substantiate them through independent data analysis
* Conduct literature reviews, techno-economic assessments, scenario meta-analysis, policy analysis and synthesis of emerging evidence
* Develop clear scientific narratives and policy-relevant messages from complex quantitative and qualitative research
* Contribute to stakeholder dialogues with industry actors, policymakers and civil society
* Supervise PhD researchers and MA students (team culture of flat hierarchies and close collaboration)
* Present research at international conferences (e.g., International Energy Workshop)
* Collaborate with other research groups
* Contribute to academic teaching (up to 2 credit hours per week)
* Support the research group in preparing applications for third-party funding
* Communicate research results in stakeholder dialogues with industry actors and policymakers
* Comply with the institution’s academic standards and ethical guidelines
Strengths and skills: The postdoctoral researcher must have a completed PhD in a relevant discipline such as energy economics, industrial ecology, engineering, economics, geography, political economy, sustainability science, climate policy, energy systems, environmental science, or related fields.
Essential requirements:
* Strong expertise in at least one area relevant to energy-intensive industry transformation, such as steel, hydrogen, renewable energy systems, industrial decarbonisation, material flows, climate policy, industrial policy or global value chains.
* Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
* Strong ability to understand and synthesise literature, evidence and model results.
* Excellent scientific writing skills and demonstrated experience in publishing and presenting scientific work.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, level C1.
* Interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of technology, economics, policy and society.
* Ability to work collaboratively with researchers from modelling, engineering, economics and policy backgrounds.
Preferred qualifications:
* Experience with techno-economic assessment, scenario analysis, energy-system analysis, material-flow analysis, integrated assessment modelling, trade analysis or policy evaluation.
* Knowledge of industrial decarbonisation pathways, especially for steel or chemicals.
* Familiarity with hydrogen-based industrial processes, renewable energy systems or green material value chains.
* Experience translating scientific insights into policy briefs, reports, stakeholder presentations or public communication.
* Experience engaging with industry, policymakers or international research networks.
* Basic familiarity with quantitative data analysis or modelling, but advanced programming or software development skills are not required for this position.
What you can expect:
* Scientific growth and personal development through close collaboration and support within the research group and partners; opportunities to publish high-impact papers.
* International collaboration and networking in an international and interdisciplinary environment; opportunities for research stays abroad.
* Societal dialogue and policy advice engaging with stakeholders from industry, policymaking, and civil society.
* Working atmosphere and infrastructure with high-performance computing resources.
* Free parking or Climate Ticket Upper Austria; flexible working hours and home office option.
Competitive compensation starting at € 67,000 gross per year.
How To Apply
We look forward to receiving your online application via the online portal, including these elements:
* Your CV (please include your university and high school grades)
* Cover letter (motivation, past experiences, research interests, and why you are a good match to our group). You do not need to propose a research program, as this will be developed jointly in the research group
* PhD certificate
* Certificates and transcripts (including university grades, ideally also final high school grades)
* 2-3 references of past supervisors or collaborators for recommendations
If you have questions about the research and group, contact Falko Ueckerdt. For other matters, contact the application team. Please understand that meetings before interviews are typically not offered.
We strongly encourage applications from women and non-binary applicants.
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