Job Opening: Postdoctoral Research Scholar: Accelerating Asia's Decarbonization Through Trade and Investment Policies


Contribute to helping Southeast and South Asian countries balance trade and investment with their decarbonization goals

The Power Transformation Lab (https://pwrlab.org/) at the University of California San Diego is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scholar to contribute to a two-year project focused on helping Southeast and South Asian countries balance trade and investment with their decarbonization goals. The successful candidate will work with a team of researchers from the UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy and Griffith University, and with numerous civil society organizations in the region.

The researchers will be fully integrated into the UCSD community, which includes a highly interdisciplinary school of public policy scholars, robust campus units researching power and energy systems, and a world-class think tank studying contemporary China.

Research Focus

The project aims to identify and promote effective trade and investment policies to accelerate decarbonization. The research will involve:

  • Data collection and modeling of trade, Chinese and non-Chinese investments, and localization policies in target geographies, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
  • Collecting and analyzing existing clean energy trade and localization policies in Southeast and South Asia.
  • Exploring the evolution of Chinese investments and alternative investment flows in shifting global value chains (GVCs) and export opportunities.
  • Evaluating and preparing case studies where localization policies have successfully advanced or hindered decarbonization efforts.
  • Proposing policy and investment strategies that balance localization objectives with decarbonization goals.

Qualifications

  • Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
  • At the time of application candidates must either have a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) or be ABD (all but dissertation) in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

  • Applicants are required to hold a Ph.D. or received a Ph.D. degree by the start of the appointment.

Preferred qualifications

  • Background in trade policy and energy economics
  • Prior expertise or knowledge in the regional foci (South Asia, Southeast Asia, China)

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Cover Letter
  • Statement of Research
  • Job Market Paper (Optional)

Reference requirements

  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

To Apply

To apply, please follow the instructions on the application link: https://apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/JPF04380

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, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. Historically underrepresented groups in engineering are highly encouraged to apply.