The Institute of Social Ecology (SEC) at BOKU University, Vienna, announces a postdoctoral
researcher position in the field of advanced socio-metabolic modelling of stocks and flows
associated with global production-consumption networks. This position is part of the ‘Emerging
Fields’ project ‘Resilience and Malleability of Social Metabolism’ (REMASS), a 5-year
collaboration among six leading Austrian research institutions, funded by the Austrian Science
Fund. REMASS aims to investigate the resilience and malleability of social metabolism in the
face of global supply chain disruptions, caused by factors such as wars, conflicts, and climate
extremes that affect resource use, inequality, and social well-being.
Context
The accumulation of material stocks (e.g. built structures, machinery or vehicles), requires
large amounts of materials and energy, and therefore leads to large emissions of greenhouse
gases (GHG). At the same time, stock patterns create lock-in phenomena: their use shapes
patterns of material and energy use leading to additional GHG emissions. Changing patterns of
investment in new stocks (e.g. built structures or machinery) can raise or reduce resource
requirements for supplying key services for social wellbeing. Possible future transformations
towards more sustainable social metabolism will hinge on investment decisions, government
activities, changes in demand and a host of other factors, not least supply-chain disruptions,
innovations, policies aiming to strengthen resilience and reduce dependency on energy
resources such as fossil fuels. This may induce non-linear dynamics, structural breaks and
unexpected transition phenomena (tipping points). These systems can be understood as
complex networks, spanning a multitude of sectors across many countries, which are
ultimately tied to the use and consumption of final products and services in specific locations.
Tasks of the postdoctoral researcher: As a member of an interdisciplinary team at SEC, and
within the REMASS consortium, the Postdoc researcher will apply and further develop existing
modelling approaches dealing with energy-material nexus phenomena in the context of global
production-consumption networks. This will require combinations of several modelling
approaches: The Material Inputs, Stocks and Outflows (MISO) model available at SEC is key in
this context. Links to other models available within the REMASS consortium (e.g., input-output
models, network models, ecological macro-economic models or integrated assessment
models) may also be relevant. We expect the Postdoc researcher to develop an own agenda in
analyzing the dynamics and future scenarios of the materials-energy nexus using these and
potentially other models, such as agent-based models, system-dynamic models, ecological
macroeconomics or related approaches. Collaboration skills will be key, as the candidate will
work closely with PhD candidates and other researchers in the REMASS consortium.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to using and further developing the MISO model to enable assessment of
biophysical resource requirements, in particular with the aim of addressing the systemic
interrelations between materials, energy and GHG emissions, and accumulation of
material stocks. These assessments aim to explicitly consider thermodynamic consistency
criteria, i.e. mass-balance all physical stock-flow processes.
- Develop approaches to analyze future scenarios of the materials-energy nexus and its
implications for social wellbeing that address non-linearities and potential tipping
phenomena related to disruptions of supply chains, in the context of efforts aiming at a
more sustainable social metabolism.
- Contribute to methodological developments related to various modelling approaches.
- Collaborate with colleagues working in REMASS on the modelling of socio-metabolic
resilience using big-data based network models and on social science research into
provisioning systems for key services, e.g. nutrition, shelter & mobility.
- Set up and maintain databases and code structures ensuring accessibility through public
repositories such as Zenodo or GitHub.
- Lead drafting of manuscripts for submission to international scholarly peer-review
journals.
Qualifications
- Excellent doctoral degree in a relevant field (e.g., industrial ecology, ecological economics
or related interdisciplinary sustainability sciences).
- Proficiency in programming. Knowledge of PYTHON, or ability to learn PYTHON quickly, will
be crucially important.
- Experience in using and developing at least one or preferably some of the above-mentioned
types of modelling approaches.
- Keen interest in sustainability, resilience, social metabolism, global supply chains, and
tipping points.
- Enthusiasm for analytical thinking, data analysis and high-quality research.
- Demonstrated experience in academic writing and publishing.
We offer
- Being part of a cutting-edge research project that aims at new insights into global
sustainability challenges.
- Working within a dynamic and interdisciplinary team of leading experts.
- A 2-year Postdoc position starting at the latest October 1st, 2025, with an employment
contract of 40 hours/week
- Elongation of the contract may be negotiable under certain conditions.
- Compensation is in accordance with the Austrian collective agreement for university
employees, with a gross salary of circa 4,930 Euro per month, 14 annual pays.
- Excellent working conditions, modern facilities, and a friendly and supportive working
environment.
If you are passionate about advancing socio-metabolic research in global supply chain
assessments and sustainability, we invite you to apply. Please send your application, including
your CV, a cover letter explaining your motivation for this position, university grades and
certificates, examples of your work (e.g., PYTHON scripts, your GitHub account, Zenodo
archives, a scientific manuscript), and contact information for two references to Prof. Helmut
Haberl (helmut.haberl@boku.ac.at) until May 19th, 2025 at the latest.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna seeks to increase the number of its
female faculty and staff members. Therefore, qualified women are strongly encouraged to
apply. In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference unless reasons
specific to an individual male candidate tilt the balance in his favor.
People with disabilities and appropriate qualifications are specifically encouraged to apply.
We regret that we cannot reimburse applicants travel and lodging expenses incurred as part of
the selection and hiring process.
Relevant references:
Krausmann, F., Wiedenhofer, D., & Haberl, H. (2020). Growing stocks of buildings, infrastructures and machinery as
key challenge for compliance with climate targets. Global Environmental Change, 61, 102034.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102034
Wiedenhofer, D., Streeck, J., Wieland, H., Grammer, B., Baumgart, A., Plank, B., Helbig, C., Pauliuk, S., Haberl, H., &
Krausmann, F. (2024). From extraction to end-uses and waste management: Modeling economy-wide material
cycles and stock dynamics around the world. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 28(6), 1464–1480.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13575
Wiedenhofer, D., Streeck, J., Wiese, F., Verdolini, E., Mastrucci, A., Ju, Y., Boza-Kiss, B., Min, J., Norman, J., Wieland,
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Pauliuk, S. (2024). Industry Transformations for High Service Provisioning with Lower Energy and Material
Demand: A Review of Models and Scenarios. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-110822-044428
Binder, C. R., Athanassiadis, A., Bristow, D., Haberl, H., & Kennedy, C. (2025). Tipping points towards sustainability:
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https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70000
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Haberl, H., Schmid, M., Haas, W., Wiedenhofer, D., Rau, H., & Winiwarter, V. (2021). Stocks, flows, services and
practices: Nexus approaches to sustainable social metabolism. Ecological Economics, 182, 106949.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.106949
Seto, K. C., Davis, S. J., Mitchell, R. B., Stokes, E. C., Unruh, G., & Ürge-Vorsatz, D. (2016). Carbon Lock-In: Types,
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