PhD: Trade-off and Tipping Dynamics in Urban Transitions

About the role

The Laboratory for Human-Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS) at EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) is looking for a PhD candidate to study coupled sustainability transitions, initially focusing on the interactions between energy and food systems. The project extends an existing agent-based model of the energy transition in Lausanne to include other urban sectors, with a focus on provisioning systems. It runs alongside the ongoing "Tipping Transition" project and is supervised by Prof. Claudia R. Binder.

Key responsibilities

• Develop a framework for analysing coupled sustainability transitions in urban systems.
• Extend and develop an interdisciplinary agent-based model of urban transitions in Lausanne.
• Investigate synergies, trade-offs and tipping dynamics between sectors such as energy and food.
• Analyse how changes in provisioning systems influence sustainability transitions.
• Develop and conduct your own research under the guidance of Prof. Binder.
• Collaborate with the HERUS team and the existing PhD project.
• Publish in international peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute to teaching and student supervision at EPFL (20%).

Required profile

• MSc in Computer Science, Energy Science, Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability Science, Geography or a closely related field.
• Interest in sustainability transitions and/or urban systems tipping dynamics.
• Excellent written and spoken English; French and/or German is an asset.
• Previous experience with agent-based modelling or sustainability transitions is welcome.

Required skills

• Good knowledge of computational modelling and programming.
• Experience with Python and agent-based modelling is particularly valuable; Scala or Julia is an asset.

What we offer

• A PhD position for up to four years in an interdisciplinary, international research environment.
• Structured doctoral training and close research mentorship.
• Opportunity to develop an independent research profile combining computational modelling, sustainability science and urban studies.

Applications are made through the EPFL doctoral programme (EDCE) by 12 November 2026, with a start date of 2 January 2027. Candidates must submit a one-page motivation letter, a detailed CV, contact details for three references and transcripts of record.