Position available at the TUM Sustainability Mobility Governance
Schreurs, Miranda
PhD or post-doctoral position (m/f/d) in Governance of mobility transitions at TU Munich (TV-L E13, 3 year term)
Application Deadline: December 20, 2021
Position Start: February or March 2022 (or ASAP thereafter)
The professorship of Environment and Climate Policy (Prof. Miranda Schreurs), based at the Department of Governance, School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich, announces a PhD or Post-Doctoral position to focus on the governance of the transition to a sustainable mobility system. The position will be located at the Chair of Environment and Climate Policy, a leading center of research on the governance of energy, sustainability, and climate governance. The position is part of the Munich Cluster for the Future of Mobility in Metropolitan Regions (MCube), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
MCube is a transdisciplinary consortium that builds on Munich’s unique concentration of mobility-related activities and diverse actors to turn the region into a model for sustainable and innovative metropolitan regions in Germany and worldwide. Research projects in MCube seek to enhance the understanding of pressing problems in urban mobility as well as to contribute to novel, collaborative, sustainable and fair solutions.
Details of the Position
Mobility is a central element of economic and societal activities. Climate change and broader sustainability concerns are demanding that we rethink existing mobility systems. The governance of mobility transitions involves not only governmental but also industrial and societal actors. Rapidly changing climate policies at different levels (municipal, regional, national, European, and global) have major implications for mobility. This position offers the opportunity to explores from a governance perspective steps that are being taken to align mobility transitions with sustainability and climate change goals, obstacles to transition, how obstacles can and are being overcome, and the potential for scaling-up best practice examples.
The PhD or Post-doc candidate will be tasked with:
· conducting qualitative social science research as part of a BMBF-funded project, including long-term data collection in the city of Munich and internationally
· developing a PhD research project addressing governance dimensions of mobility transitions consistent with the project goals and meeting the requirements of your supervisor and the TUM graduate school
· Assisting in project work and organization related to governance aspects of mobility transitions; participating in project events and workshops; and contributing to administrative activities, such as reporting and stakeholder engagement
· Publishing articles, including co-authored papers with senior group members in recognized international journals, related to the project
- Presenting results at national and international conferences, organizing academic events, and participating in the intellectual community within the Department of Government
- Collaborating in an interdisciplinary, diverse, and international research consortium as well as with external partners (academic, city, industry, NGOs);
- Co-supervising a small number of bachelor and master students’ theses
- Contributing to the group’s teaching portfolio (optional).
Requirements
· Enthusiasm for studying the governance of sustainable urban mobility transitions
· Good in team work, goal-oriented, structured
· Knowledge of political science and governance and an interest in multi-level governance
· Familiarity with climate change and sustainability challenges related to mobility
· Willingness to work inter-disciplinarily
· Interview skills
· Strong in written and spoken German and English
· Strong social science skills (political science, public policy or a related discipline) and a degree with at least very good results
Submit your application as a single pdf document, including the following (in this order):
1. Your CV, including information about language proficiencies;
2. A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) that describes your academic trajectory, relevant experiences, and your interest in your preferred focus area (see above);
3. 1-2 writing samples (e.g., your MA thesis, term paper, manuscript for publication);
4. The names and contact details of up to two references;
5. Relevant transcripts and certificates (e.g., grade transcripts, degree certificates).
We are committed to raising diversity in research and teaching, and especially encourage applications from women and gender-non-binary individuals. Applicants with disabilities are treated with preference given comparable qualification.
Send your complete application to both Prof. Dr. Miranda Schreurs (Miranda....@tum.de) and her assistant, Ms. Nadia Mohammed (teamassistenz.s...@hfp.tum.de) writing “MCube PhD application” in the subject line. We will accept and review all applications received until and including December 20, 2021. Interviews will be conducted shortly after the application deadline via a video conferencing tool.