Position Description

Position Summary:
The Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral research position in the area of energy and development, focusing on the impacts of investments in energy access and electricity reliability, broadly defined, and in just energy transitions in coal-dependent LMIC regions.

The position is funded and has a one-year initial appointment, with possibility of renewal in future years, contingent on successful grant applications.

The position entails work to support and lead certain aspects of the research portfolio of the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project (EAP) at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability (which is co-led by Sanford School Professor Marc Jeuland and Director Jonathan Phillips). The role will support impact evaluation work on energy sector investments, emerging work on electricity reliability incentives and impacts, and just energy transition. In addition to this, the successful candidate will be expected to develop their own active research portfolio, especially as it provides complementary synergies with other EAP activities and themes. More information on the EAP is available at https://energyaccess.duke.edu/.

The scholar selected for this position will work closely with EAP faculty (including Profs. Marc Jeuland and Robyn Meeks) and with co-director Jonathan Phillips, as well as other members of the team.

Essential Functions:
This research and policy position requires high-level synthesis of existing research, flexibility and willingness to travel and lead international primary data collection activities, ability and interest in working with large datasets, and interest in working with interdisciplinary teams of researchers. The expectation is that the scholar would help lead an effort that will target publications in top social science and general science journals, inform and influence investors and policymakers, and contribute to the prominence of complementary efforts such as the Sustainable Energy Transitions Initiative (SETI).

Prerequisite Qualifications:
- PhD in economics, environmental and/or resource economics, public policy, environmental policy, or a related field.
-  Evidence of strong prior experience analyzing large datasets using advanced econometric and statistical methods (using R, Stata, and/or Python).
- Strong interest and experience working at the intersection of energy and development.

- Preferably (but not required), experience utilizing remotely sensed data and combining remotely sensed data with survey data

Required Applicant Documents:
Resume / CV
Cover Letter

Writing sample