Research Assistant (PSA) - Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era (REC²), 3 positions

United Nations University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit

United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)

UNU-FLORES is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing issues in the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, waste, energy, and other geo-resources that are of concern to the United Nations and its Member States – particularly in developing and emerging economies. Based in Dresden, Germany, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, postgraduate teaching, advanced training, and knowledge dissemination to advance the Resource Nexus. For more information, please visit

Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era (REC²)

Within the prestigious REC² Cluster of Excellence initiative, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and led jointly with the Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and other research partners, UNU-FLORES offers three (3) positions in cooperation with the Chair of Business Administration esp. Sustainability Management and Environmental Accounting at the Faculty of Business and Economics, TUD.

Electronics offer numerous advantages for our lives, but at the cost of enormous resource and energy consumption and the generation of electronic waste. The REC² cluster aims to create the scientific basis for the electronics of the future: new material platforms, component concepts and integrated systems with which responsible electronics can be realized in an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable way.

Our society is dependent on electronics, which are increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives. Electronics are essential for our continued progress, providing solutions to global challenges like climate change. At the same time, electronics are also part of the problem: Their already vast energy needs continue to grow, and their ever-shorter replacement cycles drive enormous consumption.

Some of the key questions are: “How can life cycle sustainability assessment contribute to reducing the use of environmental resources (material, energy, water, climate, biota, soil, space, waste) and associated impacts while considering their interconnectivity and a fair distribution of resources globally, including particularly the Global South? How can the Resource Nexus approach for sustainability research contribute to conceptualization, design, realization, usage and end-of-life treatment of electronic products?”

Research shall focus on the design and advancement of sustainability assessment methods, with special focus on Resource Nexus assessment and its universal application to the electronics sector, for topics such as resource‑efficient power electronics, battery‑free wireless sensor systems, and communication and networked systems.

Sustainability methods that will be advanced include material flow cost accounting, environmental indicators, willingness‑to‑pay, life cycle sustainability assessment, Resource Nexus assessment, multi‑dimensional assessment, circular economy, responsibility assessment and systems modeling.

Aiming to identify strategies for reducing resource use and environmental impacts across the life cycle, system interdependencies and fair global supply chains are considered. Combined with the Resource Nexus approach, we study the environmental resources that responsible electronics consume to understand interdependent resource streams in interlinked economies, ecosystems, and communities.

As the REC² Cluster of Excellence progresses, each candidate will have the possibility to shape the focus of the research based on the results of and in consultation with the research groups.

These three positions offer an opportunity for further academic qualification, usually leading to a doctorate, by conducting research work on the topic of sustainability assessment for Responsible Electronics under the guidance of supervisors at both UNU-FLORES and TUD, specifically with the Chair of Business Administration esp. Sustainability Management and Environmental Accounting at the Faculty of Business and Economics, within the Joint Junior Doctoral Researcher Programme in a Nexus Approach to the Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources (JJDRP). These three positions offer an opportunity to collaborate with fellow Doctoral Researchers and senior scientists in research, especially publications and innovation development, capacity development and advocacy, and contribute to the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) at UNU‑FLORES and the mission of the United Nations. As a facet of the project, consideration has to be given to the impact of the research, and the potential for the research to be transferred upon completion of the doctorate.

Responsibilities

1. Research and Innovation Development

• Advance the Resource Nexus by designing, conducting and implementing research activities related to the project;
• Perform sustainability assessments with a focus on the economic and ecological dimension;
• Contribute to the development and publication of research outputs, including articles in peer‑reviewed renowned scientific journals, books, and policy briefs; and
• Support with the design and analysis of questionnaires and case studies.

2. Education and Capacity Development

• Support the supervision and/or provide guidance to students writing their Master’s thesis, as designated by the supervisor;
• Assist with the Institute’s teaching activities, especially e‑learning and capacity development; and
• Prepare presentations, tools and other materials, and support organization of capacity‑building activities, related to the relevant project/s.

3. Governance and Administration

• Provide administrative and logistics support for the project activities;
• Assist with the implementation of administrative regulations and policy framework relevant to respective activities and project;
• Assist in providing timely updates and responses to partner organisations;
• Provide organisational support to meetings with key stakeholders;
• Sort, consolidate and process data, and enter it into relevant databases;
• Assist in the maintenance of relevant research tools and platforms; and
• Handle communication with external stakeholders.

4. Outreach, Advocacy, and Impact

• Assist maintaining networks with stakeholders and research institutes in the context of relevant project/s;
• Represent UNU‑FLORES in local and international conferences, networking events and science communication events, as well as within the non‑scientific communities, and present the knowledge acquired from the research, education and capacity development activities of the Institute, as delegated by the supervisor;
• Support preparation of outputs to be shared on the UNU‑FLORES and other relevant platforms;
• Assist translating research findings into actionable insights by publishing policy briefs;
• Present research findings at scientific and implementation‑related conferences, etc.;
• Promote the Resource Nexus approach and UNU‑FLORES activities through regular social media engagement and/or the creation of communication materials.

5. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Key Performance Indicators

1. Research and Innovation Development
   • Successful submission and publication of at least one peer‑reviewed scientific article as lead author of UNU‑FLORES on an annual basis;
   • At least one of joint research product (for example papers) with academic institutions located in the Global South on an annual basis;
   • Contribution to at least one new collaboration in new regions OR one new research topics in the area of research on an annual basis;
   • Consistent participation and presentation of research progress presented as per regular schedule, timely submission of progress reports, and maintenance of up‑to‑date project information.
2. Education and Capacity Development
   • At least five hours of delivered capacity‑building initiatives;
   • Contribution to at least one new collaboration in new regions OR one new topic in the area of education on an annual basis;
   • Support to academic development of Master’s students completed.
3. Governance and Administration
   • Contribution to the positive reputation of UNU‑FLORES as a reliable and trustworthy partner among research partners, governments, donors and civil society.
4. Outreach, Advocacy, and Impact
   • Maintaining/participating in at least one active collaboration on an annual basis;
   • Contribution to at least one UN/ Member State organized conference or policy‑dialogue on an annual basis;
   • Contribution to at least one event organised by the Institute with participation of policy makers on an annual basis; and
   • Contribution to at least one public event and high‑level speaking engagement on an annual basis.

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
• Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour or any other breach of UN standards.
• Humility — demonstrate self‑awareness and willingness to learn from others.
• Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Behaviours:

• Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN.
• Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision‑making, propose evidence‑based solutions and plan action.
• Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves.
• Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others.
• Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways.

1) Education and certification

• An excellent academic profile including a Master’s degree with a cumulative grade average of at least 2.5 or an equivalent according to the German system in Sustainability Assessment or Environmental Management Accounting, or a related field;

2) Required skills and experience

• Any relevant experience; experience in electronics will be considered an asset;
• Proven experience in quantitative data analysis (e.g., statistics);
• Experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software solutions, such as open Life Cycle Assessment (openLCA), SimaPro, LCA for Experts or similar sustainability assessment software, as well as the databases ecoinvent or Sphera Managed LCA Content, is desirable;
• Proficiency in empirical research methods, such as regression analyses and Structural Equation Modelling and related statistics software packages;
• Understanding of systems thinking or resource interdependencies (e.g. energy, materials, water), ideally from a Resource Nexus perspective, is desirable;
• Familiarity with circular economy, resource efficiency, or environmental policy frameworks is an asset;
• Proven record of publications, including relevant academic papers, is an asset;
• Experience in drafting complex reports, communications, and presentations is required;
• Basic experience in conducting trans‑/interdisciplinary research (e.g., research‑oriented master thesis, research, or consultancy‑related employment), including interactions with relevant authorities and stakeholders;
• Strong planning, organisation, and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently in different contexts (e.g., academia, UN system);
• Demonstrates initiative, strong conceptual abilities and sound judgment;
• Must be flexible with the ability to establish priorities and work within prescribed timeframes;
• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi‑ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

3) Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Fluency in German is desirable; and
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under PSA contract.

The duration of the Research Assistant position aligns with the third‑party‑funded project. Subject to budget availability, the position may be offered at a working time ranging from part‑time (50%) to full‑time (100%). UNU offers an attractive compensation package including a monthly net salary ranging from 1,798 EUR to 3,596 EUR, depending on the working time, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave for full‑time (100%) work, prorated depending on the working time, and a health insurance scheme.

While the Doctoral Programme is tuition‑free, semester fees of approximately EUR 250‑300 will need to be paid by the candidate directly to TUD for enrollment. For additional information on the programme and the admission procedure, please visit our website.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

The duration of the initial contract is 1 year. This is Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with the possibility for renewal subject to the project’s requirements, availability of the budget and satisfactory work performance.

The combined duration on a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

Starting date

Immediate.