Post-Doctoral Researcher in Management
Institute of Management and Organization (IMO)
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity
open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which
they can be fully engaged and take center stage, and where our researchers can count on
having the space to freely pursue their initiative.
Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while
remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness, and responsibility.
The director of the Humanitarian Operations Group, Prof. Paulo Goncalves, invites
applications for a post-doctoral researcher position to work on a on a 3-year research
project funded by the Swiss National Fund (BRIDGE Discovery programme). The
successful candidate will develop a system dynamics model to capture possible
decarbonisation pathways for Canton Ticino, Switzerland.
The Post-Doctoral Researcher Position
The post-doctoral researcher will work under the scientific supervision of Prof. Paulo
Goncalves (http://usi.to/iam). The successful candidate will be offered the possibility to
work in a dynamic research team and in a multidisciplinary and international scientific
environment.
The post-doctoral researcher will work on a BRIDGE Discovery project awarded by the
Swiss National Fund (SNF) to develop a system dynamics model capturing possible
decarbonisation pathways for Canton Ticino, Switzerland, with the following responsibilities:
- To collect and clean quantitative relevant Cantonal data for the dynamic model.
- To plan and conduct stakeholder engagement activities, such as participatory systems
modelling workshops, semi-structured interviews, and surveys. - To contribute to model development in collaboration with colleagues at the Centre for
Management and Entrepreneurship (CMI) at the University of Applied Sciences and
Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). - To develop model structure, calibrate the model to data, designing and test policy
pathways, - To design and implement a management flight simulator for the decarbonization
pathways for Canton Ticino - To publish in high-quality peer-reviewed international journals and to present research
findings at national and international meetings and scientific conferences. - To undertake any necessary training and/or development.
- To undertake all appropriate administrative tasks.
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Candidates’ profile
Ideal candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a PhD in system dynamics, simulation modeling, or a related field, and
equivalent research experience. - Experience with integrated models, and especially with system dynamics integrated
models. - Experience with model-based and data-driven policy analysis.
- Experience with quantitative data collection, analysis, and management in a multi-
disciplinary environment (e.g., econometrics, optimization, simulation) - Experience with social engagement processes (e.g., participatory systems modelling,
semi-structured interviews, workshops, focus groups). - Excellent oral and written English, the official language for the research; understanding of or
interest in learning Italian is welcome. - Experience with publication in international peer-reviewed journals.
- Ability to work independently and autonomously, to plan, direct, and make progress on own
research. - High personal interest in sustainability and in just transition to a low carbon society
- Willingness to travel both within Switzerland and abroad to conduct research and
attend conferences.
General terms
The post-doctoral research position is highly competitive. Hiring decisions are based on the
candidate’s background, interests, attitude, and potential for academic achievement. The position
requires full-time commitment and is not compatible with further professional activity.
The successful candidates will work under the supervision of Professor Gonçalves on the
SNF Bridge discovery project funded by 3-years. The post-doctoral researcher will have
the possibility to collaborate with another post-doctoral researcher working at SUPSI in the
same project, and to interact with a team of two other post-doctoral researchers and three
PhD students working on other research projects, as well as an international network of
collaborators.
Workplace is USI Università della Svizzera italiana, located in Lugano, Switzerland.
Availability to travel to other parts of Switzerland and abroad (for purposes of collaboration
and research) is required.
Starting date is tentatively September 1, 2024
The Application
Applications should contain:
(1)
A personal statement in which the applicant describes their research interests and the
motivation to apply,
(2)
A complete CV, including (i) date of birth, (ii) nationality, (iii) names of two references
(see p.3), and (iv) other information relevant for the position (e.g., system dynamics
modeling).
(3)
Names and contact information (e.g., email and telephone) of two professional
references supporting your application.
(4)
An electronic version of research work (scientific published articles in peer-reviewed
international journals), accompanied by a short research summary in English (1
page maximum).
The application deadline is March 30, 2024. Please send your application in electronic form
in a single PDF file directly to paulo.goncalves@usi.ch (also requests for further
information).
Due to the large number of applications received, only those applicants whose profiles are likely to
fit the positions will be notified for further details and eventual interviews. We will start interviewing
qualified applicants shortly after the submission deadline.
As an institution that values diversity, USI particularly encourages applications from women
and from all individuals from underrepresented groups.
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Lugano, February 29, 2024
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CH-6900 Lugano / Lugano
