Dr. Jane Smith

Dr. Vanja Djinlev

 

LinkedIn   LinkedIn

Email: vanja.djinlev@empa.ch

Phone: +41 78 225 74 47

Urban Energy Systems Laboratory, Empa, Dübendorf

Short Bio

Dr. Vanja Djinlev (he/him) is a transdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of energy research and social science, with a focus on sustainability transitions. His work explores how collaborative, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches can support more inclusive, just, and effective pathways to decarbonization. Positioned at the science-society interface, he explores the systemic transformation of energy systems including bottom-up, co-created knowledge and participatory practices to enhance policymaking.

Vanja holds a PhD in Environmental Systems Science from ETH Zurich, where he explored the role of energy citizenship and collective action in shaping just and inclusive energy transitions. His doctoral research, conducted at the Transdisciplinarity Lab (TdLab) at ETH Zurich, examined how different social, technical, and institutional arrangements enable or constrain agency in energy systems, with a particular focus on the heating and electricity sectors. He remains associated with TdLab where he supervises students across different research areas and disciplines.

Areas of Interest

  • Socio-techno-institutional modeling and analysis of energy systems
  • Justice considerations in socio-technical systems transformation
  • Transdisciplinary tools and methods for collaboration
  • Governance and policy innovation for sustainable transformations

Selected Works

Research Articles
• Djinlev, V., Pearce, B. B. and Stauffacher, M. (2025). Evolving Roles and Shared Futures: Challenges and Visions for Switzerland’s Electricity Sector Transition. Energy, Sustainability and Society (in review);
• Djinlev, V. and Pearce, B. B. (2024). Heating Up the Energy Transition: Comparing Energy Justice and Energy Decision-making in individual and collective heating systems to support a just heating transition. Energy Research and Social Science, 125;
• Djinlev, V. (2024). Engineering Community Resilience: A Transdisciplinary Early Career Researcher’s Journey in Cultivating Bottomup Energy Initiatives Amidst Uncertainty. Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering, 60;
• Djinlev, V. and Pearce, B. B. (2024). Collective action lessons for the energy transition: learning from social movements of the past. Sustainability Science, 19;
• Djinlev, V., Dallo, I., Müller, S. M., Surchat, M., von Rothkirch, J., Wenger, A. and Späth, L. (2023). Challenges and strategies in transdisciplinary research - early career researchers’ perspectives. Gaia, 32/1;
 

Reports
• Djinlev, V. (2022), Analysis of alternatives to coal-based district heating for the Bitola region. CEE Bankwatch Network.
 

Guidebooks
• Pearce, B. B., Verhulst, B., Dagorne, E., Mokay, N. G. and Djinlev, V. (2024). A Changemaker’s Guide to the Energy Transition: Citizens designing change one step at a time. H2020 ENCLUDE.

CV & Downloads

Download CV (PDF)