Two PhD student positions for the project C02 "Energy Futures"

The University of Excellence in Bonn is an international research university that offers a wide range of degree programs. The University of Bonn, with some 31,500 students and more than 6,000 employees on the foundation of a 200-year tradition, is one of the leading universities in Germany and enjoys an excellent international reputation.

Starting on April 1st, 2026, and with a limited contract until December 31st, 2029 (3,75 years in accordance with § 2 (1) WissZeitVG), the project C02 “Energy Futures” of the CRC-TRR 228 at the Department of Geography is inviting applications for

two PhD student positions (70%)

The Collaborative Research Center CRC-TRR 228 "Future Rural Africa. Future-making and social-ecological transformation" combines expertise from the two Universities of Bonn and Cologne to study newly emerging issues of social-ecological transformation and future-making in Africa. The successful candidates will develop and employ theory-based, empirical approaches to analyze how the production of renewable electricity as well as geothermal heat and steam become the basis for (green) industrial development visions, plans and investments in geothermal project areas. This can include the planning and establishment of nearby industrial parks, direct-use activities of various kinds as well as green-hydrogen production and further use along industrial and agricultural value chains.

Your responsibilities

· Theoretically motivated empirical analyses of renewable-energy strategies, planning and production, and associated industrial development in Kenya and other African countries

· Conception, preparation and defense of a doctoral thesis with a focus on either (a) direct-use activities and value chains, or (b) green-hydrogen developments

· Publishing scientific results in reputable international journals and presenting at international conferences

· Participation in and contribution to regular team meetings in Bonn and Cologne.

Your profile

· An excellent master’s degree in Economic Geography or a related field

· Experience with interview and other qualitative methodologies

· Fitness for travel and willingness to work independently in the tropics, including fieldwork in urban and rural East Africa and other places, as well as a valid driver’s license

· Excellent command of written and spoken English

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Flexible, team oriented and interested in continuing your professional development

· Motivated to work empirically and conceptually as part of an interdisciplinary research team.

We offer

· Integration in an outstanding research environment within and beyond the University of Bonn

· Opportunity to conduct research qualifying for future academic positions and to receive the support necessary to do this successfully

· Institutional support for applicants with families

· salary according to pay grade E 13 TV-L.

The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It is certified as a family-friendly university and aims to increase the proportion of women employed in areas where women are underrepresented and to promote their careers. To that end, it urges women with relevant qualifications to apply. Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable candidates with a certified disability or equivalent status are particularly welcome.

A complete application includes (1) A letter of motivation including your specific research interest (max. 1.5 pages); (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) copies of your master and other diplomas and certificates, including the latest transcript of your grades; (4) an example of your writing (a paper, a thesis, work-in-progress); (5) the name and contact of two academic references (position, professional address and e-mail).

If you are interested in this position, please send your complete application documents by 18.01.2026 to crc228@uni-bonn.de with the application code 2025/283. Before sending your application, please combine and convert all of your documents into one PDF file. For further information please visit https://crc-trr228.de/c02-energy-futures/ or contact Prof. Dr. Britta Klagge, University of Bonn, Department of Geography, Meckenheimer Allee 166, 53115 Bonn, klagge@uni-bonn.de.