30/04/2026
Fully funded PhD position on "Water bankruptcy and continental trade-offs: rethinking Africa’s energy transition under climate change" at Politecnico di Milano as part of the “Science in Policy” programme, jointly offered by:
- PhD in Science, Technology and Policy for Sustainable Change
- PhD in Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering
**Project Overview**
This PhD will investigate how competition for water between energy and food systems may influence Africa’s energy transition in the context of climate change. As renewable energy costs decline and hydro-climatic pressures rise, tensions between hydropower, irrigation, and food production are expected to increase. The project introduces the concept of water bankruptcy as a new framework for studying allocation under structural scarcity. The candidate will develop an integrated modelling platform that combines energy systems, hydrology, and agriculture to evaluate impacts on:
- Energy system expansion
- Irrigation and food security
- Water stress and GHG emissions
- Cross-sectoral trade-offs and equity
This research builds on an ongoing collaboration with the The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and Prof. Kaveh Madani, linking advanced modelling with real-world policy processes. A visiting period at UNU-INWEH is planned during the PhD.
**Candidate Profile**
We seek a motivated candidate with:
- MSc in engineering, environmental sciences, physics, applied mathematics, or related fields
- Strong quantitative and modelling skills
- Interest in climate change and sustainability
- Strong programming skills (Python, MATLAB)
- Proficiency in English
**Supervision**
- Andrea Castelletti (EI-Lab)
- M. Cristina Rulli (glob3science)
**How to Apply**
Applications must be submitted through the official online form (https://lnkd.in/dC_EQ_Hr). Please include your CV, list of publications, motivation letter, and two referees.
**Application Deadline:** 31.05.
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