Project Officer - Scientific - Maritime Transport Economist/ Modeller

Vacancy Notice – 2026-JRC.C.4-IPR-FGIV-003075

• Type of contract: Member of the European Commission's contract staff, Function Group IV (article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants).
• Duration of contract: 36 months (renewable up to maximum 6 years).
• Area: Maritime Transport Economist/ Modeller.
• Place of employment: Ispra (IT).
• Indicative basic salary: €4,449.31 - €6,444.59 (applicable as of 1st of July 2025).

We Are

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides independent, evidence-based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively impact society.

The current vacancy is with the Directorate for Energy, Mobility and Climate. Its mission is to provide support to EU policies and technology innovation ensuring sustainable, safe, secure and efficient energy production, distribution and use, fostering sustainable and efficient mobility in Europe, and providing scientific and technical analyses in support of integrated research for related EU policies.

Specifically, the vacancy is in the Sustainable, Smart and Safe Mobility Unit located in Ispra, Italy. Its objective is to provide scientific and technical analyses in support of EU policy and international standards covering transport and mobility. The unit is committed to high-quality high-impact research on clean, safe and energy-efficient mobility, relying on state-of-the-art experimental facilities, modelling and simulation tools, and continuous interactions with stakeholders at EU and international level.

The current vacancy contributes to the Transport & Mobility Portfolio of JRC activities and supports the development and implementation of European policy and legislation on transport and mobility.

The Unit is supporting the European Commission policy priorities by carrying out research on the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU and global transport system. Specifically, the aim is to play a key role in providing scientific insight and contributing to EU Maritime policies such as the European Port and Maritime Industrial Strategies. As part of this support, a monitoring mechanism is being developed to support policy decisions based on data analysis and modelling, measuring and evaluating the competitive position of EU ports against a changing economic, technological, regulatory and geo-political context.

The job holder will work for the project Innovation for Multimodal Transport (INNOTRA). The project contributes to the ambitious goal of mobility decarbonisation, supporting the EU Climate and Green Deal targets for transport and mobility, energy efficiency and climate action.

We Offer

• A job with the opportunity to inform the design and implementation of EU policy measures related to mobility and transport in the EU, with a focus on maritime transport and ports and their impact on EU competitiveness.
• Excellent opportunities to collaborate with broad academic networks and policymakers with the possibility of participation in meetings and conferences/workshops.
• A highly interesting position in a dynamic, multidisciplinary and multi-cultural working environment.
• A unique chance to leverage and expand expertise in maritime transport and ports, working with relevant data to evaluate the economic and technological implications, and driving informed decision-making in the field.
• Be at the forefront of shaping the European Union's future policy landscape in maritime transport and mobility, with hands-on experience in crafting and influencing key frameworks that will drive the industry's development and growth.

We Propose

The EU's maritime and port policies are focused on promoting sustainable and competitive maritime transport, while addressing the challenges of climate change, global competition, increasing costs and security. The future directions of EU policy are likely to be shaped by reducing emissions, digital transformation, sustainable financing, and global cooperation.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) will produce techno-economic analyses and assessments that will provide scientific evidence to support EU maritime and port policies. In this context, an expert is needed with a broad profile capable of analysing technological and economic progress in the transport sector with a specific focus on maritime transport.

The work will include, among others, the following main responsibilities:

• Conceptualization of techno-economic studies and analyses.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis related to the assessment of maritime transport.
• Data collection, modelling, analysis and synthesis.
• Documentation of research outcomes in peer-reviewed scientific publications and reports.
• Dissemination activities, including workshops preparation, presentation of activities and results to various stakeholders (also non-technical), including contacts and managing networks within and outside the Commission.

We Look For

Essential Skills and Experience

• A university degree in Economics, Social Sciences or Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant research or professional experience in the field of maritime transport and/or ports.
• Very good written and spoken knowledge of English (Minimum C.1).

Advantageous Skills and Experience

• A PhD relevant to the topic of maritime transport (Transport/Maritime Economics, Engineering, Maritime Studies, Geography, Data Science or a related discipline).
• Post-doctoral or senior research experience involving quantitative analysis of transport or logistics systems, preferably with a focus on ports or multimodal networks.
• Experience with large-scale, multi-lingual data mining and applications of AIS, UNCTAD or similar maritime datasets.
• Advanced skills in data analysis in Python or R, SQL, GIS tools and visualisation libraries (e.g., D3.js, Plotly) for dashboard creation, machine learning modelling.
• Experience in statistical & econometric modelling, especially in competition and resilience models.
• Proven skills in writing scientific publications and communicating to scientific and non-scientific audiences as well as the general public in a clear and concise manner.
• Experience in working in a team and in a multi-cultural environment.

How to Apply

If you are already on a valid CAST FG IV reserve list, or you have already applied to one of the calls below, you can directly submit your application at the JRC Recruitment Portal.

If not, before applying to this position, you must register for one of the two following databases: the Call for Expressions of Interest (CAST Permanent FG IV), used by a wide range of institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the European Union; or the call for researchers (JRC Call COM/1/2015/GFIV – Research), mainly used by the JRC. Note that each of these calls has different minimum eligibility requirements and different selection tests.

The JRC cultivates a workplace based on respect for other people and the environment, and embraces non-discriminatory practices and equality of opportunity. In case of equal merit, preference will be given to the gender in minority.

Deadline: 24 August 2026, 23:59 Brussels time.

Apply through the JRC Recruitment Portal: https://lnkd.in/dhfHVM65