One PhD position on Payments for Ecosystem Services at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Spain

Prof Unai Pascual is looking for a candidate – an ecological/environmental or development economist, preferably – who would work on the design of Payments for Ecosystem Services in relation to social equity. Applications deadline: 8 January 2016.

The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) in collaboration with the Institute for Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrueck, offers one full-time PhD research fellowship as assistant for a research project partially funded by the Basque Government.

The PhD position as assistant/collaborator is part of a research project concerning the role of social equity and fairness in the design of environmental policy instruments. An important part of the work includes responsibility for design and implementation of surveys and experiments in Mexico, as well as data analysis.

Required qualification

The successful candidates should hold a Master’s degree in economics and ideally have previous training in areas related to environmental, development, experimental and/or behavioral economics. Candidates must have solid quantitative skills and very good writing skills. Fluency in English is required and a working level of Spanish would be desirable. A strong motivation, interest in environmental issues and interdisciplinary collaboration and ability to work independently is also desirable.

Location

The candidate will be located at the Basque Centre for Climate Change, Bilbao, Spain, and at the Institute of Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrueck for at least one third of the duration of the contract. The successful candidate will also be expected to spend some periods of time in Mexico while conducting fieldwork.

Supervision

The successful candidate will be jointly supervised by Prof. Unai Pascual (BC3) and Prof. Stefanie Engel (University of Osnabrueck). The successful candidate will be registered as PhD student at the University of Osnabrueck.

Compensation

We are offering an excellent research environment and close cooperation with a dynamic team and a network of international collaborators. The position is for a period up to three years (likely starting date: Feb 2016) and includes the writing of a dissertation thesis. Salary and working hours are in accordance with the salary scales of the Basque Government’s grant and adapted to cover German living expenses, as well as, a fund to travel between Spain, Germany and Mexico and cover field work costs.

Additional information

As a certified family-friendly institutions, BC3 and Osnabrück University are committed to furthering the compatibility between work/studies and family life. BC3 and Osnabrück University are particularly concerned with creating equality opportunities for women and men. Women with relevant qualifications are therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested, we invite you to apply before January 8, 2016. We aim to fill the positions by February 1st, 2016. Please send a cover letter including a brief description of research interest and relevant experiences, a 2-page CV, two letters of references and copies of your university diploma and transcripts in one pdf-file to hr@bc3research.org noting in the subject of the message “PhD position on equity and PES”. Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. Unai Pascual.

Applications close on 8 January, 2016 (CET 17:00).