PhD position in Energy Economics - Economic Theory

Start date: 1 September 2026

Project and funding framework

We invite applications for a PhD position at UCLouvain, starting 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is funded by the Fonds Spéciaux de Recherche (FSR) of UCLouvain and is offered for an initial period of 24 months, renewable once, subject to satisfactory progress.

The doctoral project is embedded in an FSR-funded research project on the design of auction-based support mechanisms for renewable energy deployment in Europe, carried out at the Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in Economics and Statistics (LIDAM).

The project focuses on the theoretical analysis and design of auction-based support mechanisms for renewable energy, drawing on tools from industrial organization, auction theory, and mechanism design. It examines how government support schemes can be improved to enhance competition, reduce project abandonment, and foster innovation.

The research will analyse key design features of renewable energy auctions, including pre-qualification requirements, the use of non-price award criteria, and risk-sharing support contracts. The theoretical framework may be calibrated using techno-economic data and complemented by laboratory experiments to assess market outcomes in more realistic settings. The project aims to generate policy-relevant insights for the design of renewable energy support schemes at the European level.

Host institution and research environment

The position will be hosted at the Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in Economics and Statistics (LIDAM) at UCLouvain. LIDAM brings together researchers in economics, econometrics, statistics, and operations research, and offers an active research environment with regular seminars, workshops, and international collaborations.

Your tasks

The doctoral candidate will:

• Complete PhD-level coursework within the doctoral programme at UCLouvain (or equivalent programmes).
• Conduct independent and collaborative research in energy economics and economic theory, under the supervision of faculty members at UCLouvain.
• Develop original research questions and carry out theoretical analyses, complemented where appropriate by empirical or calibrated quantitative analyses, using suitable economic and econometric methods.
• Prepare and complete a PhD dissertation, with the objective of producing research suitable for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Present research findings at international conferences and academic seminars.
• Contribute, to a limited extent, to teaching or dissemination activities related to the PhD project.

Required Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Economics or a closely related field, with a strong quantitative orientation.
• Solid training in microeconomic theory, including industrial organization, and familiarity with theoretical modelling.
• Strong interest in energy economics, market design, and policy-relevant research.
• Experience with numerical, computational, or simulation-based methods (e.g. Matlab, Python, R, or similar); experience with statistical software is an asset.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an international research environment.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken).

The following would be considered an advantage:

• Prior exposure to auction theory, mechanism design, or market design.
• Experience with theoretical modelling, calibration, or computational economics

Employment Conditions

• The successful candidate will be recruited as a full-time doctoral researcher at UCLouvain.
• The position is funded by the Fonds Spéciaux de Recherche (FSR) of UCLouvain for an initial period of 24 months, renewable once, subject to satisfactory progress.
• Employment conditions will be in accordance with UCLouvain regulations and Belgian law.
• As part of the conditions of the FSR funding, the doctoral candidate will be required to submit one or more applications for an external doctoral fellowship from the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique – FNRS (FRS-FNRS) during the first phase of the PhD.

Application procedure

Applications must be submitted in English as a single PDF file, named: Lastname_Firstname.pdf.
The application PDF should contain:

• Motivation letter (max. 1 page), indicating the position(s) applied for.
• Curriculum vitae (expected Master’s completion date if applicable)
• Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts and degree certificates (if available)
• One writing sample (e.g. Master’s thesis or research paper)
• Formal language certificates (e.g. TOEFL or IELTS), if available
• Standardized test scores (e.g. GRE), if available
• Names and contact details of at least two academic referees (letters of recommendation may be requested at a later stage)

Applicants should clearly indicate which position(s) they are applying for in their motivation letter. Candidates may indicate more than one position if they wish to be considered across funding schemes.

Applications received by 15 February 2026 will receive full consideration. Interviews and offers are expected to take place in March 2026.

Submit your application using this form. 
For more information about this position, please contact:
Bert Willems, LIDAM, UCLouvain Email: bert.willems@uclouvain.be 

More Information