Postdoctoral Researcher in the Political Economy of Net Zero University of Oxford in United Kingdom

University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI) is advertising a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Political Economy of Net Zero as part of a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project led by Donal Brown. The project examines how the UK’s political economy — including ownership structures, governance systems, and business models — shapes who benefits and who is disadvantaged in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The role is interdisciplinary and spans political economy, economic history, sustainability studies, climate change politics, and qualitative research. The successful candidate will work across key sectors of climate mitigation, including energy, housing, transport, and food, to assess where current decarbonisation pathways fall short and to help build more equitable alternatives.

This is a postdoctoral opening based in Oxford, with a fixed term running until May 2029. The salary range is £39,424–£47,779. Applicants should have a PhD or be near completion in a relevant field, along with strong qualitative research skills, an interest in political economy and the politics of climate change, interdisciplinary flexibility, and the ability to write for both scholarly and public audiences.

The deadline is 11 June 2026 at 12 noon. Interested candidates should use the University of Oxford recruitment/application portal linked in the post and review the full job details before applying.