1 PhD Scholarship

KLU hereby announces one full scholarship for enrollment in the KLU PhD program. PhD students receive their own generous annual research and training budget. Academic publications in top journals, participation in international research conferences, and international research stays are strongly supported. 
 
The scholarship enables four years of independent research under supervision by two academic supervisors of KLU’s outstanding faculty. KLU provides a collegial, active, and inspiring international research environment. PhD students are embedded in research groups and the university-wide and supportive PhD community. For this PhD project, KLU is collaborating with the Kuehne Climate Center (KCC). The KCC develops and implements logistics-focused solutions to accelerate the transition to a just, low-carbon society by reducing emissions, removing carbon, and strengthening resilience. 
  
The scholarship holder is expected to conduct research in the project “UNITY: A Unified Model for Estimating Transport Emissions and Assessing Their Accuracy.” The project aims to develop a unified, open-source model that combines parameter-driven methods from research with data-driven methods described in standards and frameworks. The model will cover all major transport modes, adapt to the level of available input data, and report the accuracy of its estimates. The project comprises three parts: (1) reviewing, implementing, and comparing existing emission estimation models using realistic benchmark scenarios, (2) developing the unified model, and (3) applying it to transport planning and optimization problems to analyze how the accuracy of emission estimates affects decisions.
 
The ideal candidate is interested in pursuing an academic career in research or teaching, and has strong communication and analytical skills. The project involves modeling and programming (e.g., Python). Candidates should possess prior experience in these areas or demonstrate the capability to work with similar methods. In addition, candidates should be interested in, or ideally already familiar with, the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions in transport, either from a practical perspective (e.g., carbon accounting according to standards such as the GLEC Framework or ISO 14083, or working with emission calculation tools in industry) or from a theoretical perspective (e.g., emission models based on vehicle, energy, or fuel consumption parameters). Knowledge of operations research (e.g., optimization models and solvers) and statistics, as well as an interest in sustainable transport in emerging economies, is an advantage. At the same time, the project explores a new research field, requiring candidates to deal with data uncertainty while ensuring that the obtained insights are meaningful and practical. The candidate should be able to communicate the results to a broader (non-expert) audience.
 
Kühne Logistics University
Kühne Logistics University is a private research university in Hamburg, Germany. Its 34 faculty span various management and logistics disciplines, with an objective to foster knowledge, education, and outreach in order to enhance leadership within the logistics industry and the logistics function. 
In its first decade, KLU has managed to establish an outstanding research reputation, as is clear in research rankings and in KLU’s faculty publishing in the world’s top journals in several disciplines.
Since its foundation in 2010, KLU has been enabling PhD students to become outstanding and influential academics, with research excellence and a good eye for the industry we study and serve. As the first graduates start their academic and industry careers, KLU has the full right to award doctoral degrees.
  
Kühne Climate Center
The Kuehne Climate Center (KCC) is a subsidiary of the charitable Kühne Stiftung (Foundation), established in 1976 by the Kühne family in Switzerland. The Center develops and implements logistics-focused solutions to accelerate the transition to a just, low-carbon society by reducing emissions, removing carbon, and strengthening resilience

KLU’s PhD program is a four-year program. The course program is tailored to every doctoral student’s specific focal research area: Our doctoral students have opportunities to attend courses that teach methods and skills relevant to their research activities offered by KLU as well as our partner universities and broader networks.
Upon successful completion, a doctoral student will obtain the (German) degree of Doctor of Management Sciences/Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Dr. rer. pol.) or the (international) degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Admission and Eligibility
Admission to the program is competitive and based on the applicant’s excellence as well as the match in research interest with the university’s resident faculty. We encourage you to apply immediately, since the reviews of applicants and the selection of scholarship awardees start upon receipt of applications. Evaluation of the applications is done on a rolling basis as they are submitted.
 To be considered for admission, applicants must meet these minimum requirements:

• Completed or about to complete a Master’s degree or equivalent (300 ECTS) from an accredited university with a good international reputation with the German grade 2.0 or better. Grade equivalents are required for international applicants.
• English language proficiency equivalent to at least IELTS 6.5.

Full details about the application procedure can be found here. You should submit:

• Cover letter (incl. your motivation to work on the topic – max. 1 page). In your motivation, please explicitly address the following two questions: (1) What experience with, or interest in, estimating transport emissions do you have – in practice or in theory? (2) In your view, why is it important to know how accurate an emission estimate is, and in which situation could an inaccurate estimate lead to a wrong decision? Applications that do not address both questions will not be considered.
• Video statement (max. 3 minutes).
• A full resume (CV).
• Two references (with full contact details).
• Evidence of your English proficiency (e.g., a TOEFL or an IELTS test, or other evidence provided by your university).
• List of degrees obtained (Bachelor and Master’s degree)
• Quality indicators for your individual excellence (e.g., prizes, scholarships), excellence in your program (e.g., class rank, thesis grade/rank), and your university (e.g., university rankings) 

Scholarship and Facilities
 
The KLU scholarship is €1,750 per month (tax-free). All PhD students have the opportunity to teach in the KLU’s degree programs, present in research seminars, participate in university services as part of the PhD program. 
 
The annual research and training budget is €3,500 in year one and two and €6,500 in year three and four. Moreover, scholarship students receive a full waiver of tuition.
  
 All these are for a period of four years

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected] for administrative questions. For questions regarding the scholarship’s research scope, please contact Prof. Heinold ([email protected]). Kindly apply through [email protected]. The application deadline is December 15, 2026. The start date can be arranged flexibly depending on the candidate, with the earliest possible start on January 1, 2027.