Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy

MIT; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

MIT is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate in the Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy in Cambridge, MA. You will work with economists, energy and climate scientists, social scientists, statisticians and software engineers to develop a flexible modular modeling framework for decarbonization pathway analysis.

This one-year position with potential extension requires strong computational modeling skills and experience in at least one general-purpose language (preferably Julia).

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required in a relevant field by start date.
• Strong computational/modeling background and coding in at least one general-purpose language (preferably Julia).
• Experience with open-source programming and collaboration tools (GitHub).

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply modular multi-sector models for decarbonization scenarios.
• Integrate model components and explore cross-scale feedbacks.
• Collaborate with economists, climate scientists, and engineers and communicate results.

Skills

Statistics/ML/AI

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication

Independent research

Education

Ph.D. in a relevant field

Tools

Julia

GitHub

Open source

Job description

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy (two openings)

Posting Description

In a multi-disciplinary team developing a new framework for exploring the multi-sector implications of decarbonization pathways, the postdoctoral associates will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of economists, energy / land / water / air / infrastructure modelers, climate scientists, social scientists, statisticians and software engineers to develop and apply a flexible, modular, multi-sector, cross-scale human-climate-impacts modeling framework to advance understanding of multi-sector feedbacks and implications of different decarbonization pathways under uncertainty. They will contribute to one or more of the following areas: advancing methods and computational techniques for human systems models, sectoral impact models, and related Earth system models; or developing, implementing, and testing approaches for integrating model components within the broader modeling framework (e.g. efficient and flexible model linkages, feedbacks, coupling); or advancing and applying individual/coupled model components to provide actionable information to advance energy and decarbonization planning. Will be expected to work closely with a sub-team as well as collaborate with the broader full team.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Ph.D. in applied mathematics, computer science, software engineering, economics, energy systems, engineering, atmospheric or oceanic sciences, physics, statistics, or a related field by the date of hire; expertise in at least one relevant domain (e.g. Energy, economics, climate, water, land, agriculture, air quality, infrastructure, biodiversity, extreme events) and/or relevant methodological skill set (e.g. statistics/ML/AI, software engineering, integrated assessment modeling, operations research/uncertainty analysis); strong computational/modeling background and coding skills in at least one general-purpose language (preferably Julia); experience with github and open source programming; experience with decision-making applications and/or integrated modeling; demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills; self-motivation with and demonstrated ability to conduct independent research; strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills; and ability to deliver results, adapt to change, work on research proposals, and work in team-oriented interdisciplinary environments.

This is a one-year position with a possibility of extension. Start date after August 1st. Required documents: Cover letter specifying relevant qualifications, current research interests, and expertise; curriculum vitae; one peer-reviewed publication; three recommendation letters.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information about the positions, please contact Dr. Jennifer Morris at [e-mail].