Toward a just energy transition: Vanja Djinlev elected to the Swiss Young Academy
Dübendorf, 18.06.2026 — Empa researcher Vanja Djinlev has been appointed a member of the Swiss Young Academy. The appointment recognizes his scientific achievements as well as his commitment to bridging the gap between research and society, particularly in the pursuit of greater energy justice.
Vanja Djinlev works at the intersection of technical innovation and social reality. As a transdisciplinary researcher, he investigates how energy systems can become not only more efficient but also more equitable. His focus is on sustainability transformations and how interdisciplinary collaboration leads to viable solutions. He brings together stakeholders from science, policy, business and civil society to collectively produce knowledge and find solutions in a transdisciplinary spirit. He has been conducting research at Empa since March 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher in the Urban Energy Systems Lab, developing urban energy strategies that support the establishment of positive energy districts. His work combines techno- and socio-economic models and provides a foundation for policy action.
Science at the interface with society
Djinlev’s academic career led him from ETH Zurich to Empa. He earned his PhD in Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich. In his dissertation, he examined energy citizenship and collective action as drivers of a just energy transition. He remains affiliated with the Transdisciplinarity Lab at ETH Zurich and supervises students from various disciplines. A central topic of his research is energy justice. He analyzes how institutional frameworks, technologies, and social practices open up or restrict scope for action. His publications demonstrate how different types of collective actions in the energy domain can contribute to greater citizen participation and create more sustainable, fairer solutions.
Recognition by the Swiss Young Academy
Each year, the Swiss Young Academy admits selected early-career researchers who demonstrate excellence in research, innovative ideas, and social engagement. Membership lasts for five years. During this time, members develop interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary initiatives and bring the perspective of early-career researchers into societal debates. Vanja Djinlev’s election confirms his approach to science as open, inclusive and responsible: “I see the Swiss Young Academy as a valuable platform for linking research with social and political debates”, he says. “For my work at Empa, membership offers me the opportunity to bring perspectives from the intersection of energy and social sciences into a broader inter- and transdisciplinary exchange on just and inclusive sustainability transitions.” For Empa, his election is a sign of how relevant research at the interface between technology and society is – and how strongly its researchers help shape the scientific system.
Information
Dr. Vanja Djinlev
Urban Energy Systems
Phone +41 58 765 11 22
vanja.djinlev@empa.ch