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.

Full-Time | Up to 4 years | On-site in Linz (AT) | Start date: August 2026 or later.

FIELD OF RESEARCH AND SCOPE

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,

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 our website.

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 (30 researchers and research software engineers), where he built up a highly productive research team on hydrogen and heavy industry (see publication record). 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 our strong ties to leading research institutions (e.g., Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Technical University Berlin, University of Oxford, Monash University in Australia, 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 (we often aim for Nature and Science family journals or excellent energy journals such as Joule)
• Develop conceptual contributions and substantiate them through independent data analysis (please see example papers on renewable system integration, e-fuel merit order, hydrogen gaps or the renewables pull).
• 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 (we have a team culture of flat hierarchies and close collaboration)
• Present research at international conferences (e.g., the annual International Energy Workshop)
• Collaborate with other research groups (see partners above)
• Contribute to academic teaching (up to 2 credit hours per week)
• Support the research group in preparing applications for third-party funding (we seek to further grow)
• Communication of research results in stakeholder dialogues with industry actors and policymakers
• Comply with the institution’s academic standards and ethical guidelines

Your strengths and skills:

The postdoctoral researcher must have a completed PhD degree in a relevant discipline, for example 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 one or several of the following: 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 results is welcome, but advanced programming or research software development skills are not required for this position.

What you can expect:

• Scientific growth and personal development. Through close collaboration and support within our research group and our research partners, you will advance your knowledge and methodological skills and publish high-impact papers with cutting-edge research on one of the most pressing challenges of our time. You will benefit from structured career and personal development support by Prof. Dr. Falko Ueckerdt et al., who are experienced and leading experts in the field, publishing regularly in high-impact journals  (see publication record).
• International collaboration. You will grow your network in an international and interdisciplinary research environment at a young and dynamic university with strong ties to leading research institutions (e.g., Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Technical University Berlin, University of Oxford, Monash University in Australia, Tsinghua University). You will have the opportunity to deepen collaborations during international conferences and research stays abroad.
• Societal dialogue and policy advice. You will have the chance to engage with stakeholders from industry, policymaking, and civil society, translating your research into actionable insights that inform the energy transition and climate policy debates.
• Working atmosphere and infrastructure. Cozy office spaces with a kitchen providing complimentary basic supplies as well as excellent technical infrastructure (access to IT:U’s high-performance computing cluster)
• Free parking or Climate Ticket Upper Austria (excellent public transport connections)
• Flexible working hours through a flextime model and the option for remote office (“home office”)

HOW TO APPLY

We look forward to receiving your online application (via the online portal below), 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 who we can ask for recommendations

If you have any questions about the research and research group, feel free to ask Falko Ueckerdt ([email protected]). For all other matters, contact David Bancelin via [email protected].

Please understand that we typically cannot offer meetings before the actual interviews.

We strongly encourage applications from women and non-binary applicants.