PhD Responsible Innovation and Smart Energy Grids in Europe and Beyond

This PhD project is part of a broader EU-Horizon 2020 project called “Multi Utilities Smart Energy” (MUSE) grids. The overall aim of the MUSE grids project is to reduce the energy carbon footprint by building smart and green energy grids for local communities. The project consortium consists of partners from academia and industry, and the actual implementation and testing of a variety of technologies for smart grids is a central characteristic of the project.

Partners of the MUSE Grids project will demonstrate and research the functioning of the technologies in two demo-sites, one situated in Belgium, the other in Italy. In order to facilitate comparison and learning, the MUSE Grids project also foresees the implementation of selected technologies in a non-European context, namely India. Your work will thus go beyond a purely European focus and will explore local energy communities and emerging socio-technical aspects of MUSE grids in Europe and in India. With your work you will contribute to a growing body of work on responsible innovation in the private sector context.

Your PhD project is embedded in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) of Eindhoven University of Technology. Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is one of the world's leading research universities (ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement). It is in particular wellknown for its joint research with industry (ranked number one worldwide by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies).

Within TU/e's Department IE&IS you will be affiliated with the Research Group of Technology, Innovation & Society (TIS). The TIS group of the School of Innovation Sciences is an ambitious, international group. Our research focuses on understanding the development and use of technology in a business and societal context. Our staff teaches in the BSc programme ‘Sustainable Innovation’, and the MSc programme ‘Innovation Sciences’, as well as in university-wide programmes for engineering students.

The department of IE&IS has a strong national and international reputation for both basic research in the academic community and applied research with industry. You will have the opportunity to profit from the benefits that such an environment has to offer and to contribute to the ongoing research.

You will engage with the research project mainly by following a qualitative research approach.

Centrally, you want to put your brains and heart to work for understanding and contributing to impactful, responsible innovations for our world. You love to learn, analyze and contribute.

If you think this job is for you, we invite you to applyby March10, 2019.

If you have questions about this position please email Johanna Hffken j.i.hoffken@tue.nl , the principal investigator of this project.

Information about terms of employment can be obtained from Kim van Puijenbroek, HR Advisor (pz.ieis@tue.nl).