Vacancies
Research Associate in Sustainable Cooling
Grade 7: £32,236 - £39,609 p.a.
The successful candidate will work on a new programme on the Future of Cooling. The primary goal of the programme is to examine cooling energy demand growth as an integrated system of key social and technical components, and identify and influence the levers by which its current trajectory can be shaped to deliver sustainable development. The position will focus on examining how and why households in fast-growing countries are making structural transitions in their cooling energy consumption, and the ways in which to moderate this shift.
The main duties include mixed methods field research, involving a combination of surveys and qualitative methods to analyse the shifts in cooling technologies, energy-related behaviours and practices, and their underlying social norms, in the different urban contexts of India and South Africa. The research includes cross-country comparative work to isolate the causal socio-cultural and behavioural drivers underlying cooling consumption patterns. This research will inform targeted energy and climate policy interventions. The research will also need to consider the feedback loops with other dimensions of the overall programme to determine the effect of cooling access on health outcomes and the efficiency and sustainability of the cooling production network.
You must hold, or be near to completion of a relevant PhD in the fields of geography, energy and environmental studies, public policy, sociology, anthropology, behavioural and decision science, economics, among others) with post-qualification research experience or relevant work experience prior to the PhD. You will be well versed with the literature on energy demand, energy cultures, behaviours, social norms and institutional practices, and climate change mitigation. A strong high-quality peer-reviewed publication record and familiarity with the existing literature and research in the field is essential. You will have experience of field based research for primary data collection with strong qualitative methods and the ability to analyse data from quantitative datasets. You must regularly present papers, and lead seminars to disseminate research findings, including to an interdisciplinary audience.
This is a full-time post offered for 3 years starting in October 2019.
Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your online application.
The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Monday 2 September 2019, and interviews will be held on Monday 9 September 2019.
Postdoctoral Researcher in Circular Plastics Techno-Economics
Grade 7: £32,236 - £35,211 p.a.
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Researcher to work under the supervision of Professor Cameron Hepburn and funded by an Oxford Martin School grant (The Future of Plastics). The project as a whole involves the investigation and development of new sustainable plastics (polymer and copolymers comprising ester, carbonate and ether linkages). This particular post will holistic, techno-economic and/or life cycle approaches to understanding pathways to implement new plastics technologies, with a focus on the assessment of environmental impact and economics of the different pathways. The role involves working alongside others with expertise on the technology and the relevant legislative framework. In general, the project involves close collaboration with other Postdoctoral Researchers and DPhil students working on the theme of ‘The Future of Plastics’.
The main duties will also include managing your own academic research and administrative activities and developing and testing new hypotheses. You will also undertake comprehensive and systematic literature reviews and write up the results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
You must hold or be close to completion of a relevant PhD in a quantitative field with experience relevant to techno-economic analysis and/or life cycle analysis. You will have demonstrated competence and success in the PhD thesis research area (and postdoctoral work if appropriate), e.g. as judged by publications (or papers in press) in high quality peer-reviewed journals. Evidence will be sought of a deep understanding of the applicant's previous fields of research and evidence of independent intellectual and practical contributions to previous research projects, as indicators that such attributes can be brought to bear on the present project. You will be able to learn new techniques and apply them in an interdisciplinary research environment.
This is a full-time post offered for 24 months. Part-time working arrangements will also be considered.
Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your online application.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 11 September 2019, and interviews will be on Monday 30 September 2019.