The Florence School of Regulation and the Loyola de Palacio Chair are organizing this Autumn School for Researchers in consortium with the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence “Integrated Energy Systems”.

LARS is for researchers with modeling skills who want to support the energy policy and regulatory debate. During the three days of the school, presentations from academics using modeling to assess policies and regulations will be followed by testimonials from (former) policymakers and industrial representatives who will share their experience working with academics. Finally, journal editors in the field of energy economics and engineering will offer suggestions and insights on how to create a presence in academia with relevant publications. We will also discuss what researchers can do when there is no time to do modeling but still want to make a valuable contribution to the debate. Participants will also apply what they have learned in the course by giving and receiving feedback on the research papers submitted by other participants, with additional coaching from the instructors in the course.

This training is the successor of 3 successful editions of the ”Summer School on Energy Systems for Young Researchers”.

The aim of the training is:

• To explain and interpret different approaches in energy-applied research.
• To apply and elaborate accurate models and conceptual frameworks for an impactful analysis of energy-related issues.
• To discuss recent quantitative and qualitative research and tools to analyze gaps in the energy policy and regulatory debate and support it.
• To examine the interactions between different research approaches and better understand the related challenges for policymakers, regulators, and businesses.
• To provide in-depth exchanges and peer-to-peer feedback on the participants’ research work.

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the general features of applied research.
• Have an overview of modeling tools to analyze energy-related issues and assess the potential of alternative research approaches to the same issues.
• Develop a comprehensive view of the interactions between the different research approaches and of the support they could give to policymakers and regulators.
• Exchange knowledge and experiences with fellow participants and closely interact with experts in the field.
• Gather feedback on your related research work.

The training is designed for Ph.D. students, post-doctoral researchers, academics, and researchers interested in crafting research that impacts energy policy and regulation.

A minimum understanding of quantitative research methods is required. A background (Ph.D. or equivalent research experience) in engineering, energy economics, or energy-related topics is recommended

The course will last three days. The first two days are structured with presentations from academics in the morning and applied workshops and testimonials in the afternoon. The course’s final day will have insights and presentations from scholars and journal editors.

The structure of the course is as follows:

17 September 2025: Using modeling in a policy/regulatory debate

18 September 2025: No time for modeling? Using conceptual frameworks in a policy/regulatory debate

19 September 2025: How to publish and build an academic career with applied research

The workload is expected to be 8 hours/day during the course and approximately ten to fifteen hours before the beginning of the course.

Please note that only a selected number of participants will be admitted. Participants are required to enclose to their registration form:

1. a short CV (max. 2 pages),
2. an extended abstract (max. 600-800 words). The full paper will be required at a later stage.
3. a motivation letter (max. 2,500 characters) which must include the following:

• the status of the paper (i.e., published, under review, working paper, draft paper),
• reasons for seeking additional feedback
• motivation for joining the school.

Please note that the information above is mandatory to guarantee a certain level of advancement and to enable participants to be efficiently matched for peer reviewing and further interaction.

Participants will receive a response regarding their admission after the registration deadline.

Selected participants will be required to submit their final research paper, ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 words (excluding the title, author names and affiliations, keywords, abbreviations, table/figure captions, acknowledgments, and references), by early to mid-July 2025.

The FSR is offering 3 EUI Widening Europe Programme scholarships for the Loyola Autumn Research School (LARS). The scholarship will cover the course registration fee and provide funding for travel and accommodation in Florence for the full duration of the course.

Application Deadline: 30 April 2025

Applicants must:

• Hold nationality in one of the targeted EUI WEP countries
• Be affiliated with a higher education institution and/or public research centre in any of the targeted EUI WEP countries

Read more info and apply now!

General Fee: 500 EUR

Cancellation policy 

Paid registration fee is non-refundable. However, registrant substitution may be made up to 20 days before the start date of the course. 

Contact: fsr.secretariat@eui.eu 

For more information, please read the full FSR cancellation policy.

Please arrange your travel and accommodation as soon as possible as Florence is very popular in this period.

The fee covers participation in the training, coffee breaks, lunches, and any meals or social activities outlined in the event programme. Travel and accommodation costs are not included.

This is a fully residential training course, and classes will be held in Florence on 17-19 September 2025.
By submitting your application, you are committing to pay the corresponding fee.

Event venue
Sala Europa
Villa Schifanoia
Via Giovanni Boccaccio, 121
50133 Firenze (FI)

How to reach the venue
Information to reach the venue available at this link.