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Faculty of Management and Economics :
Chair of Environmental/Resource Economics and Sustainability
In order to fill a fixed-term position in full-time (39.83 hours/week) at the earliest possible date, we are looking for a
Research Associate / PhD Student (m/f/x), for three years, 39.83 hours/week, TV-L E13
The research focus of the Chair of Environmental/Resource Economics and Sustainability (Prof. Dr. Andreas Löschel) is on environmental, climate and energy economics as well as sustainable human behavior. Methodologically, the chair deals with modelling as well as experimental and empirical work. A large part of our work is funded by third-party projects.
The PhD student (m/f/x) will focus on the incentives and behavioral dimension of this topic: how to incentivize consumer flexibility through behavioral change and design effective demand response interventions. In particular, the PhD student (m/f/x) will use behavioral experiments and other tools of economic analysis to understand what behavioral and structural conditions can facilitate/hinder household engagement with demand response contracts, customization and automation of energy flexibility. This PhD position is one of 15 positions funded under the MSCA Doctoral Network (DN) Consumer Energy Demand Flexibility in Electricity Use (CoDeF). More information about the project can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/mscadncodef/home. Your supervisor will be Prof. Dr. Andreas Löschel and you will join the PhD Program in Economics at Ruhr-University Bochum. You will also become part of the Center for Environmental Management, Resources and Energy, a hub that incorporates business administration, economics and legal perspectives and advances the inter- and transdisciplinary social-ecological research in conjunction with other faculties at the Ruhr-University Bochum.
Scope: full-time
Duration: fixed-term, 3 years
Start: at the earliest possible date
Apply by: 2026-03-16
Your tasks:
- Research using behavioral experiments to incentivize consumer flexibility
- Publication (also as co-author)
- Co-supervision of bachelor and master theses (in the context of the project)
- Participation in CoDeF activities
- Academic self-governance
Your profile:
- IMPORTANT: In line with Marie Slodowska-Curie Action requirements, eligible applicants to PhD programs in Germany must not have lived in the Federal Republic of Germany for more than 12 of the last 36 months.
- Master’s degree in economics or related discipline (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date of the PhD)
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills. Very good written and spoken communication skills in English
Nice to have:
- Training and/or experience in behavioral and experimental economics.
- Training and/or experience in economic data analysis using R, Stata, Python, or similar.
- Prior research experience, especially in behavioral economics, energy, and/or environmental economics.
- Interest and enthusiasm for energy and climate policy.
We offer:
- Challenging and varied tasks with a high level of personal responsibility
- Team-oriented cooperation in a committed, international and appreciative team
- A dynamic environment
- Extensive training and further education opportunities
- The possibility of flexible working hours
Further information:
The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E-13 TV-L.
Further information can be found at (in German).
The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.
The load of teaching will be calculated according to § 3 of Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung (state of North Rhine-Westphalia).
Applications should include (i) a statement of interest, including a paragraph outlining how your research interests fits in the areas outlined in the job advertisement, (ii) a curriculum vitae, (iii) copies of relevant certificates and diplomas At the request of the applicant (m,f,x), the staff council may be involved in selection interviews. https://www.wpr.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ If the position is funded by third-party funds, the employee has no teaching obligation. German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZfA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF). https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sbgk/index.html.en You can find information about the TV-L at: https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/
RUB sees itself as a university with an international presence. The campus languages are German and English. Competence in at least one of the two languages and the willingness to learn the other are a prerequisite. RUB provides corresponding free courses for employees.
German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZFA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF). https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sbgk/index.html.en
The Staff Council has the right to participate in all selection interviews. At the request of a candidate (m/f/x), it will ensure its participation in the entire procedure. Please contact wpr@rub.de.
The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create knowledge networks within and beyond the university is Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s declared aim.
The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.
Contact persons for further information:
Christoph Feldhaus Tel.: +49 234 32 25334
Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.
We look forward to receiving your application via our online application portal by 2026-03-16. Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 5436.
RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
44801 Bochum
Universitätsstraße 150
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