Assistant Professor in Sustainability Transitions

Are you passionate about advancing research that drives the transition towards a sustainable, fossil-free society?
Chalmers University of Technology is recruiting a motivated and skilled researcher for an Assistant Professorship in Sustainability Transitions. You will join a dynamic, international environment at the Department of Technology Management and Economics, combining research excellence with societal impact.

The position is part of Mistra’s Environmental Research Leaders programme, offering mentoring, leadership development, and resources for academic growth.

The position is located at the Department of Technology Management and Economics (TME), whose mission is to develop people, perspectives, and practices that contribute to a sustainable future. TME conducts research and education in eight main areas: Entrepreneurship, Environmental & sustainability assessment, Innovation & transition studies, Operations management, Supply chain management, Organizational change & managerial practices, Science, technology & society, and Technology & innovation management.

Research in sustainability transitions is mainly located within the Division of Innovation and R&D Management. The group’s research has a clear technology field- and sector-perspective, with a focus on innovation and industrial transformation in the energy, transport and process industry sectors.

The research explores how new technologies and industries emerge, how existing ones evolve, and how actors, technologies, and institutions interact.

The position is connected to Mistra’s Environmental Research Leaders programme, which aims at enabling the funding of attractive and long-term assistant professor positions within the field of environment and sustainability. This programme focuses on developing leadership in certain subject areas rather than more precisely defined projects

The successful candidate will have significant freedom to shape the research agenda within sustainability transitions, while contributing to the department’s existing research and developing new collaborations within academia and with external stakeholders.

The position focuses on sustainability transitions – a dynamic and rapidly growing research field that explores how society can move towards a fossil-free and sustainable future. This research area seeks to understand and enable the transformation of production and consumption systems, identifying the drivers, barriers, and impacts of technical and societal change in key sectors such as energy, transport, and food.

Your main responsibilities include:

• Establish and developyour own line of research while contributing to the division’s work on innovation and industrial transformation.
• Establishing an independent and externally funded research profile in sustainability transitions.
• Conducting and publishing high-quality research in innovation, industrial transformation, and related areas.
• Supervising doctoral students and contributing to research group development.
• Teaching will account for up to 30% of the position and includes supervision and course development at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
• Engaging in outreach and contributing to societal and policy dialogue.

You will collaborate with colleagues and partners within and beyond Chalmers, and engage in outreach activities that connect research with society. You will be acting collegially and contributing to academic citizenship through departmental and university activities.

We are looking for a candidate with a broad understanding of the subject area Sustainability Transitions and a genuine passion for contributing to the field. We see that you have proven experience in conducting high-quality empirical research of both theoretical and practical relevance in sustainability transitions combined with deep expertise in at least one specialized area within the field.

Requirements:

• A doctoral degree within the subject area of Sustainability Transitions or a related field, awarded no more than seven years before the application deadline*, and postdoctoral experience (or equivalent) from an institution other than where the doctoral degree was obtained. 
• A strong research record, including high-quality empirical research, repeated publications in relevant international journals, and strong qualitative methodological skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Note that there should be a clear connection between the candidate’s previous line of research and future plans, and the recruiting group’s overall research direction and focus areas.
• Experience in applying for national or international research funding, as well as in teaching, supervision, and course development at various levels.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English, and the ability to act collegially and contribute to academic citizenship.

*Exceptions are made for documented parental leave or military service. The date on the doctoral degree certificate is considered the official completion date.

Merits

• Research experience beyond the energy and transport sectors.
• Publications in top journals in the field.
• Skills in quantitative and/or novel qualitative methods.
• Experience in course management or development and completed pedagogical training.

The position as Assistant Professor is part of the Mistra Environmental Research Leaders programme. This is a full-time tenure-track position, lasting for a minimum of four and a maximum of six years in accordance with the applicable collective agreement. You will strengthen your research and teaching qualifications through practice and professional development, including pedagogical training.

Additional funds are available for research-related expenses and the recruitment of doctoral students or postdoctoral researchers. The role comes with a comprehensive support package, including leadership training (through Mistra), higher education and supervision courses (through Chalmers), and academic mentoring.

Successful completion of the tenure track leads to promotion to Associate Professor and a permanent position.

Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg .
Read more about working at Chalmers  and our benefits  for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence . Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

The application should be written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

Please follow the instructions for compiling an application for a research and teaching position at Chalmers .

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name)
One page where you:
- Introduce yourself
- Describe your motivation for applying to this position and what attracts you about Chalmers
- Describe how you support your colleagues and bring about a good working environment

CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Family name)
- Your CV (please see the CV guidelines).
- Include a list of publications.

Research and teaching statement: (Please name the document as: Research statement, Family name)
One to three pages where you:
- Describe your previous research and teaching experience and focus
- State your future research and teaching goals and focus
- Describe how you complement our existing competences and how you could create synergies between our existing research groups

Required documents:
- Certificate or Diploma verifying your doctoral degree
- Verification of parental leave, sick leave or military service, if relevant.
- Documents verifying awards and recognitions stated in your CV, leadership or teaching activities, etc, and other documents relevant to support your application
- Copies of a maximum of five relevant publications that cannot be accessed via your ORCID, Scopus ID or ResearcherID, if relevant.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. 

Application deadline: January 12, 2026

For questions, please contact:
Associate professor Magnus Persson, Head of division, Division of Innovation and R&D Management, Department of Technology Management and Economics
Email: magper@chalmers.se

Associate professor Ingrid Mignon, Contact person for the position, Division of Innovation and R&D Management, Department of Technology Management and Economics
Email: ingrid.mignon@chalmers.se

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***

Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.

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https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=14341&rmlang=UK