POST-DOCTORAT « Values and investments in renewable electricity in the Île-de-France Region, France » M/F

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Sociétés Research Field Geography Architecture Sociology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 11 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

This postdoctoral position is part of the I.JET.IDF Chair: Investment Dynamics and Energy Justice in Île-de-France (funded by the Île-de-France Region). It examines contractual arrangements, stakeholders, flows, and practices related to investment in renewable electricity generation and grid infrastructure in Île-de-France, as well as their effects on regional access to energy.

The postdoctoral fellow is expected to engage in an innovative research program that involves interdisciplinary work on the valuation of localized renewable electricity generation.

The recruited person will be responsible for the following research activities:

Activity 1: Investigate value creation around renewable electricity in the Île-de-France region

• Understand and provide an evidence-based assessment of the various dimensions of "value" associated with the development of renewable electricity in Île-de-France, such as economic, ideological and ethical factors.
• Gain an in-depth understanding of how stakeholders value projects within public-private partnerships and the role of local value creation in public procurement tenders.
• Conduct semi-structured interviews with project developers and local decision-makers.
• Investigate the potential emergence of speculative practices surrounding renewable energy (e.g. land and grid access rights).

Activity 2: Contribute to the preliminary design of an observatory of land for electricity generation in Île-de-France

• Investigate the mechanisms governing access to land for renewable electricity generation in Île-de-France.
• Establish an initial overview of the rents proposed by developers and those actually paid. Assess the discrepancies between them and examine the related regulatory challenges, particularly in relation to public service objectives.
• Identify the technical and discursive mechanisms used by stakeholders to construct and assign land value. Examine the consequences of these value-creation practices for the spatial distribution of electricity infrastructure across the Île-de-France region.

Activity 3: Scientific Dissemination and Impact

• Write and co-author at least two scientific publications related to the project (including at least one in English and one in French)
• Prepare a postdoctoral research report summarising the findings, suitable for sharing with decision-makers.
• Present the research findings at a national or international scientific conference.

Activity 4: Contributing to the collective work of the IJET Chair

• Assist with the organisation of events hosted by the IJET Chair
• Co-supervise an intern (student)
• Jointly lead an action-science project team with the public and private partners listed under the IJET Chair

This post-doctorate position is part of the I.JET.IDF project coordinated by Dr. Emmanuelle Santoire (CNRS Research Fellow, UMR 8134 LATTS, CNRS, ENPC-IPP, UGE) and funded by the Île-de-France Region. The postdoctoral researcher will be based at LATTS (Bienvenüe building in Champs-sur-Marne) and will be required to travel within the Île-de-France region for fieldwork (site visits, interviews) as well as to co-organize meetings at the offices of the project's public and private partners. The research findings will be disseminated through presentations and articles in French and English, as well as through contributions to the final research report. Travel within France is to be expected; research trips for fieldwork in the Île-de-France region will be possible.

Candidates must possess a Ph.D. in geography, economic sociology, or political science, have a strong interest in energy law, and have developed a solid understanding of energy policy and ecological transitions.

• Knowledge: Sociology of markets and value; Sustainable investments; Electricity markets and electricity law (valuation methods, contracts, regulatory bodies, jurisdictions); Public electricity service; Sociology of organizations
• Skills: Qualitative research; Interdisciplinary work; Language skills (reading, writing, and speaking French and English fluently); Support for public decision-making; Writing skills: ability to formulate a research proposal, publish, and disseminate research findings
• Interpersonal Skills : Ability to work in a team, collaboratively, and on interdisciplinary projects; Research ethics and methodological rigor; Independence, organizational skills, and accountability

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