Postdoctoral Position on Measuring The Long-term Acceleration And Crisis Of Industrial Societies

The European Research Council Consolidator project “Rise and Demise of Industrial Modernity” (RiDe) at the University of Tartu (Estonia) is looking to fill a fully funded postdoctoral position (3 years with a possibility of extension, see below). The project is led by Laur Kanger, Professor of Sustainability Transitions and co-author of the Deep Transitions framework (see here, here and here) underpinning the project. 

Start: 1 September 2025
Duration: 36 months (until 30.08.2028), with a possibility of extension up to the end of the project (30.04.2030)
Working time: 100% (40 hours per week)
Application deadline: 15 June 2025

The purpose of the postdoctoral research project is to map the long-term evolution of different institutions and practices related to the natural environment and technoscience (e.g. institutional tendency to react to the consequences of technological innovation, reliance on fossil fuels and minerals as key inputs) in G20 countries from 1900 to 2025 through the combination of different databases (e.g. party platforms, material use, scientific publications, patents). The results are expected to contribute to 1) a typology of industrialization pathways developed by the research team; 2) an index comparing the historical legacy of industrial modernity in different countries. 

What we expect

The applicant should have a PhD degree. Preference is given to candidates with a background and prerequisite skills in one of the following fields: sustainability transitions studies, science and technology studies, innovation studies, sociology (e.g. economic, political, environmental, historical), political science, economics (e.g. economics of innovation, ecological economics), history (e.g. economic, environmental, science and technology), sustainability science (or a related field). Alternatively, a PhD degree in another field combined with a strong and proven interest in sustainability issues also constitutes a good fit. 

The project assumes being comfortable with quantitative time-series analysis involving gathering and combining data from a range of different existing databases. The candidate should have excellent written and spoken English proficiency. Furthermore, the ideal candidate will have solid background in any two of the following and willingness to expand the skill-set as required:

• Scanning existing literature for possibly relevant databases;
• Indicator development, bridging theoretical concepts with available data;
• Working with large databases (e.g. PATSTAT, ECOLEX, Web of Science);
• Quantitative time series analysis, including structural break detection and clustering techniques;
• Composite index development.

Command of additional skills and experience (e.g. text mining techniques, mixed methods approaches, work in interdisciplinary teams) is considered a bonus.

What we offer

• salary range of EUR 2,500-3,000 gross/month depending on skills and experience;
• 42 paid vacation days per year and generous annual travel support for conferences;
• A supportive and international research environment within a diverse interdisciplinary team working at the frontier of sustainability transitions studies

Please see the additional details about the documents needed for applying and submit an online application via Recrur application system.

Applicants passing the first stage of evaluation will be invited to an interview (either in person or virtual). 

Since this is a project-funded postdoctoral position, the prospective candidates are strongly encouraged to get in touch with Laur Kanger (laur.kanger@ut.ee) with any substantive questions about research planned in the project. 

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