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Postdoctoral Scholar - Energy Systems and Equity (JPF02626)

Postdoctoral Scholar - Energy Systems and Equity Apply now to Postdoctoral Scholar - Energy Systems and Equity
Job #JPF02626

• Institute of Energy Efficiency / College of Engineering / UC Santa Barbara

Position overview
Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar - Energy Systems and Equity
Salary range: The posted UC system-wide salary scales set the minimum pay based on prior months of postdoctoral service (both domestic and international) before the start of appointment. See Table 23 for the experience level minimums for this position. Salary offers are determined based on qualifications and level of experience, budget, and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $64,480 - $77,327. Salaries that are higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated experience level minimum are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: October 2023 or later
Position duration: Two years, with potential for extension based on performance, length of research project, and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: October 6, 2023

Most recent review date: Friday, Oct 20, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Sunday, Mar 31, 2024 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

A team of faculty at UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, and several partners including the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Lawrence Berkeley Lab received the UC Office of the President Climate Action Award for the project: “Designing California’s clean and climate resilient electricity grid for vulnerable communities.” This project will proceed with four interconnected thrusts all informed by an advisory board comprised of members from community-based organizations and investor-owned electric utilities in California. In the first thrust, we will focus on consumer perspectives on electrification via surveys and quantifying the barriers to and propensity of adoption for residential electrification, rooftop PV, battery storage, electric vehicles, and demand response. In the second thrust, we will use the survey results to examine possible spatial distributions of electrified load adoption and compare these to the spatial distribution of feeder capacity, space constraints, and climate-zone specific load shapes to inform feasible configurations for microgrid generation and storage DERs. In the third thrust, we will focus on ways in which DERs and electrified loads can work together in the face of climate extremes to ensure climate resilience, by quantifying the benefits of demand response, non-wires alternatives, and DERs at different levels of adoption. In the fourth thrust, we will examine how economic incentives can deliver benefits to customers, the transmission network and electric utilities, by enabling electrified load and DER adoption prior to system upgrades, and enable revenue generation / bill savings from engaging in wholesale market services enabled by FERC 2222.

The postdoctoral scholar will work closely with PIs from UC Santa Barbara as well as other institutions to lead and contribute towards tasks under thrusts 1 and 2. Specifically, the postdoctoral scholar will develop and apply quantitative (statistical, machine learning) methods to develop the propensity of adoption of renewable energy and end-use electrification using primary survey and secondary data under various future demographic, policy (tax, subsidy) intervention, and/or technological scenarios. These propensities will then be used to develop various electricity load profile scenarios for communities under Thrust 2 and will be used as inputs to modeling under Thrust 3. Under Thrust 2, the scholar will lead generation and distribution level resource characterization and constraints in disadvantaged communities. This will entail identifying existing data on rooftop solar potential and/or performing novel assessments of urban solar infill potential as well as collecting and interpreting data on distribution system capacity constraints. The scholar will also contribute towards tasks under Thrusts 3 and 4 as necessary and lead academic manuscripts stemming from the work.

The postdoctoral scholar will be supervised by Professors Grace Wu, Ranjit Deshmukh, and Matto Mildenberger. This position will be recruited through the Institute for Energy Efficiency at UCSB.

The University of California employs about 5,963 postdoctoral scholars who contribute to the academic community by enhancing the research and education programs of the university. The postdoctoral experience emphasizes scholarship and continued research training. UC's postdoctoral scholars bring expertise and creativity that enrich the research environment for all members of the UC community, including graduate and undergraduate students. The total duration of an individual's postdoctoral service may not exceed five years, including postdoctoral service at other institutions.

The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) is the exclusive representative of the postdoctoral scholars. Current collective bargaining agreement: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/px/contract.html

The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Ph.D. in engineering, energy systems, environmental sciences, economics, or a related field (or equivalent international degree), OR be enrolled in a PhD program at the time of application.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

A PhD in engineering, energy systems, environmental sciences, economics, or a related field (or equivalent international degree) by start date of appointment.

Preferred qualifications

Experience in energy systems, spatial analysis, statistics, optimization.

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter

• Statement of Research - Statement of Research, Interests and Goals.

• Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Applicants should summarize their past or potential contributions to diversity .
  (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-4 required (contact information only)

Only the finalists’ references will be contacted. The committee may select 2-3 finalists after the interviews if there is no clear top candidate. In that case, the committee may contact the references of all remaining finalists before making their final selection.

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02626

Help contact: cassandratai@ucsb.edu

Campus Information

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs , as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location
Santa Barbara, CA
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