Post-doctoral Research Associate

Rutgers University; New Brunswick (NJ); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Vacation and leave programs

Retirement benefits

Educational benefits for dependents

Life insurance

Employee discount programs

Job summary

Rutgers University, Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) in New Brunswick, NJ, seeks a Postdoctoral Associate to advance grid decarbonization research within a multidisciplinary team.

You will work on externally funded projects across engineering, economics, and public policy, contributing to research design, data analysis, and dissemination. In-person with some remote work flexibility.

Qualifications

• PhD in building sciences, engineering, architecture, urban planning, energy or regulatory economics.
• Experience with energy modeling tools and building energy systems is required.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills; fluency in data cleaning and programming.

Responsibilities

• Use advanced energy modeling to analyze energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and electrification in buildings.
• Use community-scale models to analyze high-performance buildings and geothermal systems.
• Assess barriers to adoption of clean energy technologies.
• Analyze codes, standards, policies related to building decarbonization and econometric impacts.
• Analyze utility rates and impacts on households, including low- and moderate-income groups.
• Publish peer-reviewed papers and public reports; maintain datasets and codebooks.
• Coordinate and document analysis steps; participate in team meetings and support external funding proposals.

Skills

Energy modeling

Python/R

Data analysis

Strong written/presentation

Education

PhD in relevant field

Public policy/energy knowledge

Tools

EnergyPlus/OpenStudio

OpenStudio

UrbanOpt

Job description

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title Post-doctoral Research Associate

Department Rutgers Center Green Building

Salary Details A salary range of $70,000-$90,000 annually.

Offer Information The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university’s broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Benefits Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee discount programs

Posting Summary

The Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) seeks Postdoctoral Associates to support externally funded projects aimed at accelerating building and grid decarbonization for a sustainable energy transition. CUPR has multiple ongoing projects funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the US Department of Energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and others that include a mix of research design, fieldwork, data science, simulation modeling, writing, and presentations. The overarching goal of the Postdoctoral Associate will be to systematically investigate, evaluate, and address both technical and non-technical (political, behavioral, social) obstacles to building a grid decarbonization. The successful candidate will work with a team of approximately 20 researchers in the built environment group at CUPR and will contribute research skills and training at the intersection of engineering, economics, and public policy with knowledge and experience of buildings and energy systems. Specific postdoc duties will depend on the successful candidate’s skills and interests, matched to project needs, with time allocated to pursue independent, discretionary work.

Responsibilities

• Use advanced energy modeling to analyze energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and electrification measures in the building stock.
• Use advanced community-scale energy models to analyze high-performance buildings and geothermal energy systems.
• Assess technical and non-technical barriers to the adoption of clean energy technologies.
• Conduct analyses of existing codes, standards, and policies related to building decarbonization, including econometric analyses of economic impacts.
• Conduct analyses of utility rates and rate impacts on households and other populations with emphasis on low- and moderate-income populations and affordable housing settings.
• Author peer-reviewed publications and public reports on research findings.
• Maintain a database of research materials, datasets, and codebooks.

Position Status

Full Time

Posting Number

26FA0701

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Candidates shall have completed all requirements for a PhD in building sciences, engineering, architecture, urban planning, energy or regulatory economics, public informatics, or a related field prior to being hired.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Professional knowledge in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, urban planning, regulatory economics, or other fields, as related to building sciences and energy and infrastructure systems
• Advanced experience with whole building energy modeling tools such as Energy Plus, Open Studio, or Design Builder, and community-scale building energy tools such as UrbanOpt; advanced experience with regulatory economics modeling software may be substituted
• Strong quantitative skills, with the ability to leverage these for decarbonization strategies
• Fluency in task automation, data cleaning, and analysis in a programming language, with a preference for Python and/or R
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail; the successful candidate will record and share detailed accounts of their efforts (analysis steps, etc.) and participate in regularly scheduled research team meetings
• Strong written and presentation skills; the successful candidate will be involved in producing written reports summarizing research findings and describing research materials and methodology, and assisting in developing proposals for external funding

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with energy policy analysis approaches and methods, including stakeholder interest and conflict analysis, benefit-cost analysis, utility rate development, program evaluation, regulatory policy analysis, and report writing
• Experienced working in multi-disciplinary teams and engaging with diverse stakeholders
• Experienced in social science research methods

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Overview

Statement

Special Instructions to Applicants

The position is in-person, with some flexibility for remote work—possibility of renewal for a 2nd year.

Location

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
33 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings. Immunization Requirements

Immunization Policy

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals , if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• List of Professional References (contact Info)

• Writing Sample 1
• Other Documents (4)
• Other Documents (2)

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