Postdoctoral position in postgrowth climate mitigation modelling focused on food, biomass, land-use

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

The Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) invites applications for a position of Postdoctoral to join Prof. Julia Steinberger's research team.

This postdoctoral researcher position is part of the EU ERC Synergy REAL - A Post-growth Deal project , led by Prof Julia Steinberger in Lausanne and Profs Giorgos Kallis and Jason Hickel in Barcelona. The position is part of the REAL Postgrowth Integrated Assessment Model, a global model which focuses on human well-being, inequality and unequal exchange. We seek candidates who have previous experience with food-biomass-land use models and/or Integrated Assessment Modelling, who have an interest in post-growth and degrowth scholarship, and who are motivated to work on scenarios of post-growth agri-food systems and assessing different post-growth policies. This position will develop a module of food and biomass demand and ensuing land use and greenhouse gas emissions components of the global post-growth Integrated Assessment Model.

Job information

Expected start date in position : November 1st or by agreement

Contract length : this position is for a fixed term of two years, with no possibility of renewal upon contract expiration.

Activity rate : 60%-100%

Workplace : University of Lausanne main campus, Géopolis building

Your responsibilities

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  80% research contributing to model and scenario development, collaboration with the rest of the modelling team, focusing on the food, biomass, land use and emissions part of the REAL postgrowth model. This includes writing and revising articles describing the model and its results.
  
  

  
  


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  10% participation in REAL project joint activities (seminars, meetings etc).
  
  

  
  


• 10% other as required: teaching, funding acquisition, other research.

Your qualifications

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  PhD in food-biomass-land-use systems and related emissions modelling. 

  
  


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  Familiarity and experience with models such as MAGPIE and GLOBIOM. 

  
  


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  Strong skills in modelling, experience in object-oriented python modelling is a plus.

  
  


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  Strong skills in data analysis and synthesis.

  
  


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  Experience of academic writing and publications, publication track record. 

  
  


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  Excellent collaboration capacities, working in large groups across institutions.

  
  


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  Professional academic proficiency in spoken and written English.

  
  

What the position offers you

Opportunity to work in the beautiful city of Lausanne and the lakeside campus of the University, participating in one of the world’s foremost projects on alternative economies, degrowth and post-growth, within a team of excellent, collaborative and welcoming colleagues, including strong collaborative links with the ICAT-UAB REAL team at Barcelona.

Contact for further information

Professor E-Mail schreiben 

Your application

Deadline : 15.09.2025

Please include a full CV and motivation letter, describing your exact expertise in food, biomass, land-use and emissions modelling, as well as your motivation to join the REAL project’s postgrowth modelling research.

Please, send your full application in Word or PDF.

Only applications through this website will be taken into account.

We thank you for your understanding.

Seeking to promote an equitable representation for men and women among its staff, the University encourages applications from women. 

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:

•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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