Ref LXI_MSCA_15 - Postdoc candidate for a MSCA PF in Economics and Life Cycle Assessment, Labor Economics and Indicator Methodology Development

IWHO ASBL is interested in hosting a postdoctoral fellow within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship programme.

Project idea

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) aims to detect possible improvements to products and services by reducing their environmental impact and decreasing the use of resources, e.g., materials, land use, water and energy, across all life cycle stages. While Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantifies physical exchanges with the environment, and labor productivity measures the amount of goods and services that a group of workers produce in a given amount of time, there is a lack of indicators to measure the utilization of human resources and labor capacity across a product/service life cycle. Developing a framework that quantifies incremental working hours used across product/service life cycle will deepen the understanding of its socio-economic impacts.

This project aims at developing Life Cycle Labor Capacity (LCLC) framework to identify the estimated total incremental working hours of a product/service across its life cycle stages, e.g., raw materials extraction, transport, production, disposal/recycling, in order to assess and possibly improve its socio-economic impact.

Such framework will serve several stakeholders as elaborated below:

• Governments and policy makers:
  • Help adapting their strategies according to demographic capabilities
  • Determine areas of investments to reduce un-employment rates
  • Pinpoint proper investments for economic growth
• Industries:
  • Provide an overview on labor capacity across their product/service life cycle
  • Develop a better understanding of their social impact
• Researchers:
  • Understand the relation between population growth and economic growth in the production and end of life phases, rather than solely the consumption phase
  • Predict the socio-economic effects of innovations, e.g., automation, on unemployment rates, required labor capacity, and population growth
• End users:
  • Recognize the socio-economic impact of using a certain product/service

Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the project, trainings and mentorship will be arranged for the candidate in partnership with the University of Luxembourg.

Offer Requirements

Would you like to become a change agent? Would you like to engage in developing a framework to identify the socio-economic impact of products/services?

The Intangible World Heritage Organization asbl is seeking for a post-doc researcher with a multidisciplinary mindset in the fields of Life Cycle Thinking, labor economics, and socio-economic indicators development.

The main task will be leading a project focused on developing a framework to quantify the labor capacity (incremental working hours) across a product/service life cycle to assess, and possibly improve, its socio-economic impact. The candidate must have high education qualifications (PhD) with relevant experience in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and/or labor economics.

The candidate should have a proven capability to work in a team, flexible, innovative, proactive with initiative and problem-solving skills, alongside possessing high level of analytical and synthesis skills. Knowledge and experience in indicators design and development are considered an asset.

Qualifications and experience required:

• Essential:
  • Hold a PhD in the areas of Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or labor economics
• Preferred:
  • Knowledge and experience in indicators design and development
  • Knowledge of both financial and production aspects related to product/service development (e.g., Life Cycle Assessment, labor productivity)
  • Good communication skills; ability to communicate complex scientific information to individuals from other disciplines.
  • Experience in collaborative projects 
  • LCA or labor economics related scientific publications
• Language required:
  • Fluent in English
  • Knowledge in French/German would be appreciated Personal
• Skills:
  • Proactive
  • Team Worker
  • Initiative in Research and Innovation
  • Flexibility Results-oriented
  • Analytical and synthesis capabilities

Institute description

Intangible World Heritage Organization (IWHO) asbl is a non-profit, non-governmental, organization established in Luxembourg since February 2020, with a global ambition to preserve, revive, and promote global cultural and technological legacy towards a sustainable future.

The loss of accumulative knowledge, driven by the dilution of our cultural diversity and the domination of modern industrialization, is evolving devastating socio-economic and environmental challenges threatening our very existence on this planet. At IWHO, we aim at enriching accumulative knowledge by developing a better understanding on the impacts of industrial revolution on our societies and environment. We believe in the strong potential of indigenous knowledge, and that diversity is a key factor in tackling contemporary and sustainability challenges.

IWHO is hosted by University of Luxembourg Incubator with a strong connection to the universities’ academics and an international outreach of partnerships, providing a unique opportunity to engage in a multinational, multilingual, and dynamic environment.

About Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship

The MSCA PF are postdoctoral fellowships, financed through the European Commission for 2 year positions, covering salary and research costs of the researchers, who can come from anywhere in the world. The evaluation process of these programmes is more about the project and the career development of the candidate, than his/her publication record. The organizations in Luxembourg that want to host such talented researchers include large public research organizations as well as private companies that offer interesting job perspectives after completion of the fellowship.

Minimal eligibility criteria

• Individual: applicant applies together with host institute
• PhD at the deadline (PhD date cannot be more than 8 years ago)
• Not working or living in Luxembourg for longer than 12 months before the call deadline
• For rules see here or contact your NCP

How to apply

Please fill out the application form until May 15^th 2021 – please note that we cannot accept applications without the application form. We need your CV with a list of publications and if relevant a short project proposal (maximum 3 pages) as well as the offer reference you are interested in. You can also send several fine-tuned CVs if you are interested in multiple positions – please fill out a new application form in that case. Make sure you address the text and requirements mentioned by the respective hosts.

Please note that applications are made through Luxinnovation, your contact point for Horizon Europe in Luxembourg, before being handed over to the host company.

Don’t hesitate to contact us, if you have any questions.

Luxinnovation, the Luxembourgish Innovation agency and National Contact Point for MSCA, will support both you and your future host institute during your application phase. For all applicants coming to Luxembourg we offer guidance documents, webinars, training in proposal writing and we will review your proposals if you wish so (depending on our availability). In 2019, MSCA IF proposals from Luxembourg had an average success rate of 28.5%, and proposals reviewed by our service 42%.

More information can be found on our website.

See other similar positions here.

KEYWORDS

• Life Cycle Assessment
• Labor Economics
• Indicator Methodology Development

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