Job positions at School of Public Policy – Center for Global Sustainability, USA
The Center for Global Sustainability (CGS, cgs.umd.edu) at the University of Maryland works to catalyze more effective action on climate and sustainability challenges by integrating collaborative engagement across diverse communities with the ability to generate high-quality analysis. Their team of scholar-practitioners has significant and diverse experience in implementing real policy and decision making, and simultaneously in leading field in research. CGS works to build global capacity for analysis to support climate ambition, to understand cleaner energy technology pathways, to enhance resilience to climate change, and to support new approaches to energy and climate finance.
Available positions:
Research Assistant (s): Climate Mitigation and Sustainability
The Center for Global Sustainability is looking for research assistant(s) with excellent research, coordination, and communication skills. The mission of CGS is to change the way that governments, diverse organizations, and people around the world envision and implement new possibilities for ambitious climate action. The team has significant and diverse experience in both delivering field-leading research and informing, supporting, and implementing policy in national and international contexts.
These will be paid hourly positions up to 20 hours/week over the semester. The research assistants will work with CGS and their collaborators, as appropriate, to apply robust and innovative research approaches to understanding national climate ambition, energy transition, climate finance, non CO2 mitigation, and other topics at the center of climate policy and sustainability debates.
Specific projects may include but are not limited to the following:
- Near- and long-term low-carbon development strategies of key countries
- All-of-society climate mitigation strategies in the United States
- Accelerated fossil transition pathways in key countries, potentially including but not limited to subnational strategies
- Co-benefits of climate change mitigation, such as air quality and human health, economic development, and other national priorities
- Scenarios for analyzing climate and transition risks to the economy and financial system
- Decarbonization strategies for industry, transportation, and other sectors
- Methane and other non-CO2 reduction strategies at national or subnational levels
- Agricultural and other land-related mitigation options
Specific tasks may include the following:
- Conduct background research and analysis of climate, energy, environment, and sustainable development policies
- Collect, analyze and visualize data
- Contribute to writing reports and potential research papers
- Support research communications, data visualization, and content creation for all of CGS’s digital mediums
Specific required skills are:
- Knowledge in climate, energy, and sustainability issues and policies
- Excellent English language proficiency required, particularly written
- Dedication and strong ability to learn quickly
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment
- Background in quantitative analysis, data collection and management
Specific preferred skills include:
- Coding skills in R, Python and/or STATA
- Geospatial analysis and/or econometric skills
- Ability to read and interpret legislation
Deadline: 14th August 2023
Post-Masters Research Associate (Faculty Specialist): Climate Mitigation and Sustainability
The Center for Global Sustainability (CGS, cgs.umd.edu) at the University of Maryland is looking for Post-Masters Research Associate(s) with strong analytical and communication skills and a desire to apply those skills in support of climate and sustainability issues. This position will be a full-time appointment for one year and renewable for two years based on performance.
The Post-Grad Research Associate will work with CGS and their collaborators, as appropriate, to develop and apply robust and innovative research approaches to better understand pathways to reach challenging and ambitious climate and sustainability goals at international, national, and/or subnational levels. Such research approaches may include integrated quantitative analysis and modeling, empirical methods, qualitative and mixed methods, or other approaches to understanding energy systems, land use, non-CO2 climate forcers, and other topics at the center of climate policy and sustainability debates. Specific projects may include but are not limited to the following:
- Near- and long-term low carbon development strategies of key countries, such as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, etc.
- All-of-society climate mitigation strategies in the United States.
- Pathways to achieve Maryland’s 2031 emissions reduction and net-zero targets
- Accelerated fossil transition pathways in key countries, potentially including but not limited to subnational strategies.
- Co-benefits of climate change mitigation, such as air quality and human health, economic development, and other national priorities.
- Scenarios for analyzing climate and transition risks to the economy and financial system.
- Decarbonization strategies for industry, transportation, and other sectors.
- Methane and other non-CO2 reduction strategies at national or subnational levels.
- Agricultural and other land-related mitigation options.
Primary duties and tasks of this position may include:
- Conduct background research and analysis of climate, energy, environment, and sustainable development policies.
- Conduct background research on energy technology trends.
- Collect and synthesize data for use in quantitative, integrated modeling.
- Process, analyze, and visualize data.
- Modify and run an integrated assessment model (GCAM) to produce different policy and technology scenarios.
- Process and downscale model outputs to needed resolution.
- Contribute to developing reports and research papers.
- Support policy engagements with key local, national, and international stakeholders.
- Use a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods to address key research questions.
The candidate should be self-motivated, team-oriented, and interested in developing and applying high-quality research to inform policy on climate and sustainability issues. Specific required and preferred skills are:
Minimum qualifications:
- Candidates must have received a Master’s degree within the past 24 months from an accredited college or university.
- Excellent English language proficiency required, particularly written.
Desired qualifications:
- Degree in Public Policy, Engineering, Economics, or related field, with knowledge in climate, energy and sustainability issues.e
- Background in quantitative analysis, data collection and management.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Coding skills in R and/or Python.
- Dedication and strong ability to learn quickly.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
Deadline: 11th September 2023
Post-Bachelors Research Associate (Faculty Specialist): Climate Mitigation and Sustainability
The Center for Global Sustainability (CGS, cgs.umd.edu) at the University of Maryland is looking for a Post-Bachelors Research Associate(s) with strong analytical and communication skills and a desire to apply those skills in support of climate and sustainability issues. This position will be a full-time appointment for one year and renewable for two years based on performance.
The candidate should be self-motivated, team-oriented, and interested in developing and applying high-quality research to inform policy on climate and sustainability issues. Specific required and preferred skills are:
Desired qualifications:
- Degree in Public Policy, Engineering, Economics, or related field, with knowledge in climate, energy and sustainability issues.
- Background in quantitative analysis, data collection and management.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Coding skills in R and/or Python.
- Dedication and strong ability to learn quickly.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
Deadline: 11th September 2023
