Through the UCSB Institute for Energy Efficiency, the 2035 Initiative is seeking a postdoctoral research position in climate and energy policy. The 2035 Initiative is a collaboration between environmental policy and politics research labs at the University of California Santa Barbara. The Initiative uses cutting-edge empirical research, policy development, and media engagement to support transformational climate and energy policy change in the United States and across the planet.

This position will involve working on a variety of research projects. The main project will focus on accelerating industrial electrification in the near-term by developing a policy roadmap and technology database. The project is a collaboration between political science, public policy and engineering scholars. The engineering components of the project will generate detailed 10-year roadmaps to rapid electrification of three industrial subsectors: major chemicals (ammonia, methylene, ethylene, and propylene), food and beverage, and pulp and paper. These analyses will feed into policy research that identifies gaps in climate, energy and decarbonization policy, understand barriers to decarbonization and how they can be addressed through policy, and propose politically-viable policy interventions to accelerate decarbonization. The postdoctoral scholar will support the policy development component of this project. They will also be able to work on other climate and energy policy research projects.

Qualified applicants for this position must have a background in climate and/or energy policy, preferably with training in public policy, political science, planning, environmental studies, environmental sciences, or other related fields.

The postdoctoral scholar will be supervised by Associate Professor Leah Stokes. This position will be recruited through the Institute for Energy Efficiency at UCSB.

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.

Ph.D. in public policy, political science, planning, environmental policy, environmental sciences, or a related field (or equivalent international degree), OR be enrolled in a PhD program at the time of application.

Ph.D. in public policy, political science, planning, environmental policy, environmental sciences, or a related field (or equivalent international degree) by start date of appointment.

• Strong expertise in climate and energy policy at the local, state, or federal level.
• Experience with quantitative and/or qualitative approaches to policy analysis
• Openness to working across disciplines, including with engineers.
• Proven record of independently leading research projects, publishing journal articles and presenting at conferences.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20. For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

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.