Research specialist in quantitative methods of technology and policy change

Research Specialist in Quantitative Methods of Technology and Policy ChangeREF 2024-0676The cost of low-carbon technologies has radically fallen over the past several decades yet growth is still not fast enough for climate targets.
Can policies accelerate technological progress? How fast can technological innovation accelerate?Today's science cannot answer these questions because it is divided between a qualitative understanding of policy-change and a quantitative understanding of technological development.
Come help us bridge this gap by developing cutting-edge methods which can help us understand the potential for technological innovation and identify the most effective policies to meet the Paris climate targets.Information about the Division/The ProjectWe are recruiting a Research Specialist to develop and apply quantitative methods to analyze the speed of technological change and identify the most effective policies to accelerate energy transitions.
The position will focus on developing new methods to measure and model technological deployment and to identify the role of policies in accelerating and/or re-accelerating the growth of low-carbon technologies.
The interdisciplinary research position requires expertise in a range of quantitative social science methods applied both to numerical data such as technology deployment as well as "softer" kinds of data like texts of policies and political documents.The position will contribute to a broader research agenda within the POLET (Perspectives of Technological Change and Energy Transitions) research group which focuses on understanding the feasibility of climate action.
The group has a rich international network and a strong funding track record, including with an ERC Starting Grant and as part of a MISTRA network on Low-carbon Electrification in Sweden.The research specialist position will be based within the Physical Resource Theory Division and the Department of Space, Earth and Environment.
The Physical Resource Theory Division conducts research and provides education on solutions to major environmental challenges such as climate change, energy transitions, and sustainable land use.
Our challenge-driven research is interdisciplinary, building on both technical and social sciences using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods.
The division has around 50 staff members, faculty, and PhD students with diverse expertise including engineers, natural and social scientists.
The Department of Space, Earth and Environment focuses on cutting-edge science to answer big questions important for tackling global challenges.Major ResponsibilitiesThe Research Specialist will develop and apply methods related to quantifying and modeling non-linear dynamics associated with technology and policy change, and publish in top journals in the field.
This will include:
technology growth modeling and scenario analysis; time-series analysis; Monte-Carlo simulations; machine-aided data acquisition, classification and analysis; multivariable regression analysis including using Bayesian approaches.
The Research Specialist should also be prepared to monitor the frontier of emerging quantitative social science methods and relate them to theories of technology and policy change.Besides their own research, the Research Specialist will take on a special role in the research group of training and supporting young scholars in applying quantitative methods in their own work, including by developing a course for PhD students on quantitative methods.
The position will also develop and maintain a shared data and coding infrastructure for a small research team (~10 people) and support senior scientists in fundraising.QualificationsThe interdisciplinary research position requires expertise in a range of quantitative social science methods applied both to numerical data such as technology deployment as well as data of policies and political documents.PhD degree in environmental science, energy studies, or related fields of natural or social science with at least six years of experience in researching energy transitions, technology change, and energy policy.Proven experience with developing and applying novel methods for analyzing energy transitions such as technology growth modeling and scenario analysis; time-series analysis; Monte-Carlo simulations; machine-aided data acquisition, classification and analysis; multiple variable regression and survival analysis including using Bayesian approaches.Experience of working with both empirical and scenario data.Experience developing and maintaining shared data and coding infrastructures, supporting younger scholars learning and applying new methods, as well as publishing in top-tier journals.Quality conscious and adept at working both independently and within a team.Experience in collaborating with people with different disciplinary and cultural roots.Contract TermsPermanent employment.We OfferChalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance.
We work broadly with equality projects, for example, the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence.
Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.Application ProcedureThe application should be attached as PDF files, as below:
CVPersonal letterOther documents (optional):
• Copies of completed education, grades etc.
Two references that we can contact should be provided at a possible interview.Please use the button at the bottom of the page to reach the application form.
We do not accept applications sent by email.
• Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position.
• #