The University of A Coruna (UDC), Spain, is inviting applications for a full-time post-doctoral contract of Research Associate to undertake social research in collaboration with Professor Ricardo Garcia-Mira and other team members as part of the People-Environment Research Group at the University of A Coruna.

The work framework of this contract is the ENTRANCES project, which is framed under the topic “SSH aspects of the Clean-Energy Transition” and it tries to interpret the “Challenges facing the carbon-intensive regions” within a multi-contextual framework: 1) the de-carbonisation policies; 2) the ongoing processes of deterritorialisation, and 3) the territorial dimension of clean energy transition.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to work with an approach to the study of coping strategies from a wide array of perspectives: A multidimensional perspective, combining different disciplinary frameworks; a comparative perspective, developing a comprehensive set of case studies; and a multilevel perspective, involving different key players at territorial, regional, national, European and global level.

The overall goal of the project is developing a theoretically-based and empirically-grounded understanding of cross-cutting issues related to Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) aspects (e.g. socioeconomic, socio-technical, socio-ecological, socio-cultural, socio-political and socio-psychological, and gender related aspects) of the clean energy transition in European coal and carbon-intensive regions, so as to formulate a set of recommendations able to tackle these issues.

In particular, the work will focus on:

  1. Produce a comprehensive and detailed knowledge on the SSH related aspects of the transition to clean energy as they emerge in the 13 coal and carbon-intensive regions involved in the project with particular reference to their de/re-territorialisation processes  
  1. Develop a better understanding of the differentiated problems faced by European coal and carbon-intensive regions in transition and the coping strategies they have developed so as to identify under which circumstances they are able to foster economic development and social cohesion
  1. Co-create a set of recommendations reflecting the lessons learned from the project as well the energy-related views of coal and carbon-intensive regions stakeholders

The research will adopt an in-depth case study design, involving interviews with individuals in a range of coal regions and carbon-intensive areas, alongside survey data and documentary evidence

You should have a Ph.D. in psychology, sociology, or any other social science (or a related research area), along with significant previous experience of independent research and experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis.

The position is an opportunity of working within a very active research group, with working meetings at the European level and with an opportunity to work with an international network of researchers. The local context is a context with opportunities, according to the candidate’s worth. It is also a cultural environment that develops in a region with a long history and cultural heritage of the richest in Spain, Galicia.

Please, send an email with your Expression of Interest, together with a CV to Ricardo Garcia-Mira to the following email address: ricardo.garcia.mira@udc.es

Expression of interest deadline is 29 February 2020

Download the conditions in pdf 


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