Assistant Professional Researcher - Building Energy and Environmental Systems Research

University of California - Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Davis is seeking a senior researcher to advance energy efficiency in buildings, HVAC control, and grid-interactive applications. You will design studies, analyze field and experimental data, and develop reproducible computational methods.

Lead proposals, manage budgets, supervise staff, and publish findings in academic venues. The role focuses on building energy systems, semantic models, and data interoperability, with opportunities for collaboration across academia

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline with 3+ years post-Ph.D. experience and scholarly record.
• Experience in designing and conducting research on building energy and environmental systems.
• Expertise in quantitative data analysis including statistics, forecasting, signal processing, or ML.
• Familiarity with building energy simulation, automation, semantic models, data integration, and interoperability is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct studies; collect and analyze data from multiple sources.
• Develop reproducible computational methods and publish findings.
• Lead grant proposals and manage sponsored projects and budgets.
• Supervise researchers and mentor students; coordinate across teams.
• Present research at conferences and in journals; foster industry partnerships.

Skills

PhD in engineering

Post-PhD experience (3+ years)

Data analysis (statistics, forecasting

Machine learning

Python

R

MATLAB

Education

PhD in engineering

Tools

Python

R

MATLAB

Job description

Position overview

Salary range: $128,600-$164,800

Application Window

Open date: November 9, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Dec 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Sunday, Feb 28, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• Energy efficiency of buildings and end-use systems, with a focus on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Demand flexibility and building-to-grid integration, including development and management of methods for characterizing, forecasting, and controlling building demand flexibility, including load shedding, load shifting, virtual power plants, and grid-interactive building applications.
• Indoor air quality and healthy buildings, including ventilation, filtration, airflow, indoor contaminant transport, environmental sensing, and HVAC control strategies that balance indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and energy use.
• Semantic models, data integration, and interoperability for building systems, sensors, controls, indoor environmental measurements, and flexible energy resources.
• Forecasting, signal disaggregation, and data analytics for building end-use loads, indoor environmental conditions, and demand flexibility.
• Technology commercialization activities, development and cultivation of industry partnerships, and technology transfer of innovations into deployable products and systems.

The researcher will design and conduct studies, collect and analyze experimental and field data from primary and secondary data sources, and develop reproducible computational methods. The researcher will write and manage grant proposals and sponsored research projects, lead independent and collaborative research projects, supervise research staff and student researchers, manage project budgets and sponsor communications, synthesize relevant literature, publish research findings in academic journals, and present research at academic and industry conferences and meetings.

Center Description

https://wcec.ucdavis.edu/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Applicants must possess a Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline and have a minimum of three (3) years of post-Ph.D. experience, including a demonstrated record of scholarly achievement, proposal development, project management, and mentoring of students or research staff.
• A record of publications in peer-reviewed journals, and research and mentorship experience is required. The applicant must possess expertise and experience in designing and conducting experimental, field, analytical, or computational research related to building energy and environmental systems. The applicant must have demonstrated experience in quantitative data analysis, including statistics, forecasting, signal processing, and/or machine learning. Competence in relevant computational and data-analysis tools, such as Python, R, MATLAB, or similar platforms, is expected. Experience with building energy simulation, building automation systems, semantic models, data integration, and interoperability frameworks is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to secure research funding and to initiate, coordinate, and conduct research programs with a variety of funding sources, including federal, state, utility, and industry sponsors is desirable. Experience managing research projects, budgets, and student or research staff is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal collaboration and networking skills are required, along with the ability to function at a high level of competence, and to work effectively with individuals representing a diversity of backgrounds, interests, and positions, both within and outside of the University of California.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-6 required (contact information only)
• Applicants must provide the names and contact information of their references. The hiring unit will contact references for final candidates

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmitive Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Davis, CA