The Growth Lab at Harvard University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to spearhead research on green growth, focusing on analyzing supply chains for clean energy technologies and leveraging this data to influence strategic industrial policy.
Project Background:
An important green growth opportunity is for countries to manufacture products in supply chains for clean energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, and electrolyzers. But policymakers often find analyses of these manufacturing opportunities lacking and insufficient to guide policy effectively. This project will draw on analytical approaches from economic complexity, sustainability science and network science to evaluate which parts of which supply chains are most feasible and valuable in different places and assess how countries can use policy to become involved in clean energy supply chains. This project will aim both to apply existing methods and generate new or customized methods to tackle problems related to industrial policy in clean energy supply chains. Developing better analyses of these issues promises to promote better policy design around decarbonization and the economic transition it requires.
Responsibilities:
- Use environmentally-extended input-output databases, life cycle inventory databases, and methodologies from network science, economic complexity, and other quantitative methods to analyze and interpret supply chain data.
- Contribute insights towards economic complexity, structural diversification, and their implications for green growth strategies.
- Employ Python and R programming for data analysis and modeling purposes.
- Support writing publications that document our methods and use cases in policy application.
- Collaborate with a diverse team of interdisciplinary researchers around green economic growth.
- Support mapping of supply chains related to clean energy technologies.
Requirements:
- PhD awarded and interest in problems related to the energy transition, economic growth and industrial development.
- Background in Industrial Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Science, Environmental System Engineering, Economics, Economic Geography or a related field.
- Proficiency in Python and R programming languages for data analysis and modeling.
- Familiarity with input-output analysis and network science methodologies.
- Knowledge of databases such as Dun & Bradstreet, Ecoinvent, Compustat, Patstat and Orbis would be helpful.
- Knowledge of theory around economic growth, economic complexity, structural diversification and macroeconomics would be helpful.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Benefits:
- Opportunity to work within a world-class research environment at Harvard University.
- Collaborate with leading experts and policymakers in the field of green growth.
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
- Access to unparalleled resources and opportunities for professional development.
This post is for an extendable one-year contract (it is anticipated that the position would be extended for multiple years.
About The Growth Lab:
The Growth Lab is a global thought leader offering breakthrough research, methods, and tools that can help policymakers, investors, and practitioners understand how to accelerate economic growth in a location. Two decades of Growth Lab research has advanced understanding of place-based pathways to economic prosperity, by combining academic research, applied policy engagements, and digital tools. Our green growth research agenda will apply these frameworks, focusing in particular on Economic Complexity, to the global energy transition. Economic Complexity is generally used to assess the technological capabilities that underpin local economic competitiveness and to identify opportunities for new investment and economic diversification.
Application:
To apply, please submit a cover letter, CV, research sample, a summary of your research interests and experience, and contact information for three references to growthlab@hks.harvard.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
At Harvard Growth Lab, we're committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Join us in driving impactful change towards a sustainable future through innovative research and policy initiatives.
Harvard University is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.