Ph.D. student Position -MISCEA thesis offer ESR18 – Low-carbon, decentralized cooling systems in Côte d’Ivoire

Air conditioning ownership, currently low across Africa, is poised to increase dramatically there under the joint effect of global warming, income growth and urbanization. This prospect raises two questions. First, will AC adoption take a carbon-intensive path, dominated by traditional, low-energy efficiency models, or a sustainable one relying on decentralized, solar-powered technologies? Second, what is the impact of such a dramatic change on consumer wellbeing – household expenditure and health outcomes in particular? Answering these questions is key to assess the risk of ‘maladaptation’ associated with AC and design effective policies to mitigate it.

The project addresses these questions through a case study based in rural Côte d’Ivoire. Building on a partnership with Meridiam, the project will assess the benefits from a solar AC deployment programme. A selection of households will be provided with solar AC. Key variables reflecting wellbeing – household expenditure, sleep quality, physical activity – will be monitored before and after adoption of the technology, and compared with those of non-adopters. The cost-benefit analysis will factor in energy prices, technology costs, the economic value of avoided CO2 emissions, and the quality of life.

The candidate will engage in two main tasks. (i) Designing the program, which implies selecting households, designing a survey, minoring key outcomes and managing data quality. (ii) Applying econometric tools to the data to estimate both the determinants of AC adoption and its impact on different measures of well-being.

Requirements

Research FieldEconomics » Environmental economicsEducation LevelMaster Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Applicants are expected to have extensive training in applied economics, econometrics and data management, in relation to development, health and environmental issues. They are expected to master state-of-the-art empirical approaches to technology adoption and impact estimation (instrumental variables, difference-in-differences estimation, etc.), tools for statistical analysis (R, Stata, etc.) and electronic data collection (ODK, SurveyCTO, etc.).

Applicants are also expected to have demonstrated experience in field studies and project management. Proficiency in both English and French is required. Some interest or experience with information technologies (using e-commerce, cellphone or electricity metering data) is a strong plus.

Lastly, the position requires a taste for both leadership and team work. It also involves a strong interest in public policy and an ability to engage with both professionals (from the public and private sector) and survey participants.LanguagesENGLISHLevelExcellent

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Description of the project and the candidates’ eligibity criteria :

This position will be part of the EU-funded project MISCEA, which is an ambitious inter- and multidisciplinary Doctoral Training Network under the Horizon-Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. 

PhD candidates’ can be of any anationality but you have to meet these eligibity criteria :

• Not being a current employee working at ENPC.
• Not having resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in France for more than 12 months during the past 36 months immediately before the deadline of the MISCEA Programme’s call. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
• Holding a Master’s degree (or about to obtain one) or having a University degree equivalent to a European Master’s degree (5-year duration) at the deadline of the MISCEA Programme’s call.
• Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the co-funded programme’s call. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will NOT be considered eligible.
• Signing a declaration of the veracity of the information provided (Declaration of honour, free of form).

If you comply with the eligibility criteria and you wish to submit your application, you must :

• Contact the thesis supervisor and explain your thesis project to her/him so that she/he validates your application.
• Submit a 5-pages thesis proposal under the proposed research areas, with the agreement of the future supervisor. Additionally, to the submission of the 5-pages thesis proposal, the applicant will have to complete an ethics checklist based on ethics guidance from the HorizonEurope programme guide.
• English-translated transcripts from the master’s degree or equivalent.
• Any specific requirements of the Doctoral School corresponding to the targeted MISCEA
  fellowship offer.
• English curriculum vitae, including information about the level on English language knowledge.
• A motivation letter. 
• One letter of reference, at least.

Templates are available on the MISCEA website (link).

Then your candidature is complete, please send inquiries to miscea-program@enpc.fr

Additional comments

The present offer of a doctoral contract in France is for a period of three years.

Full-Time employment : estimated monthly brut salary : ~2700euros (estimated monthly net salary before income taxes: ~2100euros)