Offer Description
Climate change and population growth around the Mediterranean basin are increasing the need for water for food production and, consequently, the pressure on water resources, both in terms of quantity and quality. High-quality water will therefore be reserved primarily for drinking water. Among the options for achieving sustainable water management, in addition to sobriety, the use of recycled water represents a new source of non-conventional water. This perspective first requires a change in mindset, where wastewater must no longer be considered as waste, but rather as a new resource to be managed according to needs within a specific system of risk and system management. It then calls for new governance and a change in practices, where the service rendered to the receiving environment must also be taken into account. The valorization of these non-conventional waters is mainly carried out by membrane processes, which is IEM’s expertise, while risk analysis and financial econometrics are MRE’s competencies. Social sciences are crucial disciplines to envision the circular economy of water and its recycling.
As part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the social sciences and the chemical sciences of Montpellier University departments, this research project focuses on the circular economy of water, and more specifically its recycling.
The postdoctoral fellow recruited will be part of social science research laboratory named Montpellier Research in Economics (MRE) laboratory (https://mre.edu.umontpellier.fr/), and will be funded by the Chemistry LabUM at the University of Montpellier. He/she will work closely with the IEM Membrane Process Engineering team.
Main mission:
The person recruited will be tasked with creating various scenarios linked to water recycling, enabling the simulation of economic mechanisms that could lead to the integration of water recycling at different geographical scales.
The main objective of this new project is to measure the “lost” value of not recycling water at the end of the treatment plant. Could quantifying the damage to a community of not recycling water creates new market opportunities? What would be gained by recycling water?
Activities:
The person recruited will carry out the following tasks in collaboration with members of the Montpellier Recherche en Economie (MRE) laboratory (https://mre.edu.umontpellier.fr/ ), and in coordination with the IEM, involved in the above-mentioned project:
– Bibliometric analysis of the literature on the circular economy, in particular as applied to water, in order to establish a cartography.
– Database formatting and cleaning: data processing and matching of data from various sources
– Theoretical and empirical analyses of the economic mechanisms driving investment in innovative water recycling technologies; valuation and new business models.
– Contribution to the writing of scientific articles (theoretical and empirical)
Requirements
Research FieldEnvironmental science » Water scienceEducation LevelPhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
We are looking for a post-doctoral student with a strong taste for research and applications in the field of economics, with expertise in water economics.
A good knowledge of the tools of economic analysis, in particular industrial organization, game theory, information and contract economics, and risk economics.
Mastery of data processing tools and econometric techniques. A good level of programming in Python and associated environment/tools will be a plus.
Proficiency in data processing software (R or Stata).
Ability to synthesize and write.
Specific Requirements
Knowledge of the research and innovation landscape in circular economy, water economics and environmental economics will be appreciated.
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria
Post-doctoral candidate with a PhD in either :
– in economics, with solid experience in the field of innovation and the circular economy
– in water and environmental engineering, with a strong interest in economic issues
Selection process
Please send your CV and cover letter by email before 12/15/2023.
