POTENT PhD

You will be working on a project called “Port governance for energy ports under the sustainable energy transition”. During this project you will analyse three related elements of port governance:

• Port governance model:  Analyze the specificities of the port governance model for energy ports across Europe, both under the current fossil energy regime and during the transition to sustainable energy. Which types of port governance drive or impede the energy transition? Who are the main drivers and decision makers? What is the role of public policy vs commercial strategy? How is port governance changing and how might it or should it change as both a driver and outcome of the energy transition?
• Port business model: Analyze the specificities of the port business model for energy ports across Europe, both under the current fossil energy regime and during the transition to sustainable energy. How can ports create value from the energy transition? How can they diversify their revenue streams as revenue from fossil fuels declines? How can they develop a new business model that protects jobs in the port and city and contributes to the regional and national economy? How is the port business model changing and how might it or should it change as both a driver and outcome of the energy transition?
• Port stakeholder model: Analyze the roles and relationships of internal and external stakeholders at energy ports across Europe, both under the current fossil energy regime and during the transition to sustainable energy. What is the role of energy companies in the port as energy production, storage and provision become central elements of the port’s business? What is the role of local citizen and environmental groups? Which stakeholders are the main drivers or impeders of the energy transition? How are these roles and relationships changing and how might they or should they change as both a driver and outcome of the energy transition?

The drivers, challenges and opportunities of the transition of fossil energy ports to sustainable energy remain unmapped. In order to address this problem, we must understand the energy transition in various aspects of the port business, such as energy generation inside and outside the port, energy provision for bunkering, electrifying activities in the port, revenue streams from industry activity (particularly the energy sector) on port land and revenue (both increase and decrease) from energy-related traffic being handled at the port. Decisions regarding all these activities are managed by a range of actors according to the port’s governance model, yet the specifics of the port governance model for energy ports have never been studied or mapped. 

You will use mixed research methods to analyze these questions and deliver policy and strategy recommendations. A strong qualitative component is essential, particularly for the mapping and analysis of governance models (task 1) and stakeholders (task 3). Some quantitative methods would also be appropriate (particularly for task 2 on the business model) which may include, for example, cost-benefit analysis or system dynamics.

NOTE ON LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: Fluency in both English and French will be necessary for this position. While your research outputs will be written in English, you will be working with the port of Marseille for your data collection as well as considering national and industrial policy in France, which will require interviews and document analysis in French.

NOTE ON ELIGIBILITY: The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network aims to increase mobility for students, and therefore will only accept students who have not lived more than 12 of the last 36 months in the country to which they apply, based on the start date of 1st September 2025. Please keep this rule in mind as you submit your application. 

KEDGE Business School is a vibrant business school with four campuses in France (Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Toulon), and three abroad with two in China (Shanghai and Suzhou) and one in Africa (Senegal). KEDGE Business School offers an international environment, which includes 14,800 students (23% foreign students), 200 full-time faculty members (45% of whom are international) and close to 300 international academic partners. Ranked 31st amongst European Business Schools and 28th worldwide for the Executive MBA by the Financial Times, KEDGE Business School is AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accredited and a member of the French Conférence des Grandes Écoles. 

A master’s degree, preferably in a social science discipline such as geography or economics or in the fields of management, business or transport/logistics

• Proof of fluency in English and French
• A passion for research
• Ability to work independently
• An interest in topics on which research is being undertaken by KEDGE’s Research Centres.

Candidates for the programme are selected on the basis of their CVs, academic references, and interviews with the potential supervisors. 

Our PhD positions are fully funded for a period of up to 4 years. Appointed PhD candidates are employees of KEDGE Business School and will receive a salary of approx. EUR 2100 per month gross, including health care benefits. Following the 3-paper model, a PhD thesis at KEDGE consists of three related academic papers, which are ultimately submitted to high-quality academic journals. The PhD programme offers extensive training in research methods; students are also encouraged to regularly attend research seminars. Our PhD students also have the opportunity to teach on undergraduate and masters’ courses, which is normally undertaken in English. Training in pedagogy is also available. 

Successful candidates are appointed on a full-time basis for a duration of up to four years. This PhD position will commence on 1 September 2025. Due to the funding constraints of the project, this date cannot be changed.

The submission deadline for applications is Friday, 14 March 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, which can be via an electronic platform like MS Teams, with faculty members of KEDGE. 

(1) Please complete the online application form, available on our website: 

(2) Please also submit the following documents to the following designated e-mail address: phd.recruitment@kedgebs.com 

• Statement of purpose (Cover letter) 
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Proposal of how you would address the thesis topic above 
• Grade reports of your MA and BA degrees
• A pdf copy of your MA thesis or other research-oriented output (e.g. BA thesis, seminar papers, etc.). This work must be single-authored
• At least one reference letter 

Please see additional information on our website. 

Only applications received by e-mail before the deadline will be considered. 

In the header of your e-mail, please clearly provide the following information: ‘PhD Application, YOUR NAME, CESIT POTENT’. E.g.: PhD Application, Smith, CESIT POTENT

The Ports as Energy Transition Hubs (POTENT) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network is looking for 15 qualified PhD candidatesinterested in the field of Energy Infrastructure, Maritime Economics, Ports, and Data Science. The primary objective of the POTENT Network, led by Copenhagen Business School, is to investigate how ports can support and accelerate the clean energy transition in Europe. The research will focus on:

• Identifying gaps in renewable energy, green fuel infrastructure, and technologies to address these gaps, especially integration of digital technologies to optimize energy use, improve efficiency, and integrate renewables.
• Considering the systemic aspects of integrated energy ports, including the implications of integrating ports into electricity grids, and the socioeconomic and regulatory aspects of port development.
• Investigating the governance and business model challenges and opportunities that ports face in the energy transition and exploring how they can create and capture value, manage stakeholder relationships, and make decisions that align with the energy transition goals.

This research project provides a fantastic opportunity for researchers interested in the energy transition. It aims to integrate knowledge of engineering (e.g., mechanical and electrical engineering) and social sciences (economics, sociology, and anthropology) in a doctoral training programme across 8 European research institutions and 15 industry actors. The POTENT consortium brings together a multidisciplinary research team from across Europe to train experts in port energy systems and develop key skills to deliver a just and sustainable energy transition. The energy transition of our ports is being rapidly acknowledged as a crucial tool as Europe undergoes the energy transition to climate neutrality and energy security.

You can find application links and video introductions to each of these positions on potentmsca.cbs.dk or at the host university’s job site.DC1 Facilitators of the clean energy transition: Port governance and business model innovation- Based at Copenhagen Business School, this DC will work with Henrik Sornn-Friese and Michele Acciaro on port governance, business model innovation, institutional entrepreneurship, and clean energy transition.

DC2 “Socio-economic aspects of energy port transition”- Based at Copenhagen Business School, this DC will work with Tooraj Jamasb and Christine Brandstätt on the topic of infrastructure development, public acceptance, economic regulation, and innovation dynamics.

DC3 “Energy Ports in System and Network Perspective”- Based at Copenhagen Business School, this DC will work with Henrik Sornn-Friese and Tooraj Jamasb on the topics of energy technology systems, renewable energy supply chain, and environmental impact assessment.

DC4 “Smart ports (digitalization) and systems integration between ports and energy systems”- Based at Chalmers University of Technology, this DC will work with Sonia Yeh and Paul Pop on the topics of digitalization transformation risk, SoS integration and complexity management, and energy-efficient digitalization. 

DC5 “Integrated Analysis of E-Fuel Policy, Infrastructure, and Energy Resilience in Maritime Transitions”- Based at Chalmers University of Technology, this DC will work with Sonia Yeh and Selma Brynolf on the topics of maritime policy analysis, e-fuel supply chain dynamics, electrification, and energy resilience.

DC6 “Electrified Ports and Grid Dynamics: Synthetic Grids, Impact Methodologies, and Real-World Case Analyses”- Based at Chalmers University of Technology this DC will work with Sonia Yeh and Anh Tuan Le on the topics of synthetic grid dynamics and constraints, e-fuel production, and electrified ports. 

DC7 “Green Maritime fuel transition taking into account risk and uncertainty”- Based at The Technical University of Denmark this DC will work with Marie Münster and Josef Oehmen on the topics of infrastructure adaptability and scalability, PtX technologies, de-risking strategies, and flexibility assessment.

DC8 “Optimizing Port Operations through Edge Computing and AI-Enhanced Digital Infrastructure”- Based at The Technical University of Denmark this DC will work with Paul Pop and Sonia Yeh on the topics of IoT integration edge computing, energy management, and digital security.

DC9 “Governance structures and strategies to foster the clean energy transition”- Based at Kühne Logistics University this DC will work with Gordon Wilmsmeier and Johannes Meuer on the topics of governance structures, low-carbon management and strategies, electrification, hydrogen operations, infrastructure life cycles, policy impact assessment.

DC10 “Low and zero emission fuels port geographies”- Based at Kühne Logistics University this DC will work with Gordon Wilmsmeier and Hanno Friedrich on the topics of global shipping networks, port system transformation, and hydrogen value chains.

DC11 “Digital technologies for getting insights into urban energy dynamics and port-city interactions”- Based at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology this DC will work with Niki Gaitani and Henrik Madsen on the topics of urban building energy modeling, energy systems dynamics and port-city interactions.

DC12 “Market design, and tariff structures for unlocking flexibility in harbors”- Based at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology this DC will work with Anne Neumann and Henrik Madsen on the topics of grid flexibility functions and impact assessment, tariff design, and sector coupling.

DC13 “Assessing stakeholders urban-port relationships and sustainable management strategies through circular approaches and emerging business models”- Based at World Maritime University this DC will work with Fabio Ballini and Alessandro Schönborn on the topics of circular economy, port-city integration, business models, emerging market strategies, and life cycle assessment.

DC14 “Business models and value chains for the energy transition in transport”- Based at Norwegian School of Economics this DC will work with Julio Cesar Goez and Haiying Jia on the topics of port system electrification, hydrogen production.

DC15 “Port governance for energy ports under the sustainable energy transition”- Based at Kedge Business School this DC will work with Jason Monios and Pierre Cariou on the topics of governance and business model adaptation in the transition of ports from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.