Postdoc - The Sustainable Energy and Environmental Systems Department

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division has an opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the team.

The Sustainable Energy and Environmental Systems (SEES) Department at LBNL analyzes potential environmental and economic benefits, scalability issues, barriers, and market and policy opportunities for emerging energy, environmental, and climate technology solutions. Our analyses draw on a diverse set of tools and methods, including life-cycle assessment, complex systems modeling, atmospheric and human health impacts modeling, geographical information systems (GIS), and scenario analysis, to identify robust research and development (R&D) and policy pathways. The ultimate goal is to maximize the energy, climate, economic, ecological, human health, and societal benefits of advanced technologies.

Contributing to the goals of the department, you will provide technical and scientific leadership, applying engineering and scientific concepts, with an emphasis on developing a comprehensive analytical framework for analyzing energy demands in industrial processes at the unit operation level. The initial workflow involves gathering data for 50-70 representative U.S. industrial processes and analyzing energy demand profiles by disaggregating processes into unit operations. Leveraging limited available data and fundamental thermodynamic principles, the postdoc will estimate typical efficiency levels of unit operations to demonstrate the bandwidth available for energy and carbon reduction in high-impact operational areas through advanced energy solutions.

In this role you will explore emerging clean technologies for unit operations (or energy services) with reduced energy demand, costs, and environmental footprints. The postdoc will further build on these capabilities through data analytics, assessing the effects of specific decarbonization solutions or technologies as case studies. The ultimate goal of this position is to deepen our understanding of energy flows within industrial processes, identify cross-sector decarbonization solutions, provide actionable insights for optimizing energy demand, and contribute to reducing environmental impact through the adoption of advanced technologies.

What You Will Do:

• Analyze and document process-specific energy use profiles by disaggregating them into individual unit operations, further mapping these energy profiles by operational requirements and thermodynamic characteristics.
• Conduct innovative analysis and demonstrate intellectual leadership in areas such as industrial energy use, decarbonization strategies, industrial electrification, techno-economic analysis (TEA), life-cycle assessments (LCA), clean energy technologies, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation, waste heat recovery, and U.S. energy-related policies.
• Perform in-depth engineering assessments of sustainable energy technologies and practices for a broad range of complex energy system problems, including process integration through pinch analysis, electrified and/or low-carbon heat supply, and integrated energy system studies.
• Conduct techno-economic research on cost, energy, and resource savings, as well as the application of clean energy technologies and GHG mitigation measures across industrial sectors. Simulate the economic and environmental costs and benefits associated with integrating energy technologies and policies at various system levels and time frames.
• Author and contribute to conference papers, laboratory reports, and refereed journal articles on industrial energy use profiles, energy technologies, and deep decarbonization strategies.
• Contribute to project management activities, develop relationships with funders and stakeholders, and identify and respond to potential sources of funding.
• Develop and assist in creating presentations for conferences, meetings, and workshops, and present at these events. Interact with other researchers at LBNL regarding relevant research activities and future collaborations.

What is Required:

• Ph.D. or equivalent in engineering, physical sciences, or environmental studies.
• Proven experience in industrial energy, carbon, and resource analyses, technology assessments, and understanding the underlying factors affecting energy use and GHG emissions across various sectors and regions.
• Broad knowledge of high-impact, energy-intensive industries such as chemicals, petroleum refining, iron and steel, cement, food, and pulp and paper.
• Familiarity with industrial material flows, energy end-uses, and the associated environmental impacts within high-impact, energy-intensive industries.
• Experience in comprehensively analyzing at least one industrial sector (e.g., ammonia, cement, dairy) and its energy use profiles and unit operations.
• Strong understanding of techno-economic analysis (TEA) principles for assessing the cost, performance, and environmental impacts of industrial technology innovations.
• Excellent analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to develop industrial analytical models.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated record of publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
• Proven success in developing presentations, presenting research results, and representing the research group at meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to prioritize work and collaborate effectively with project partners, industry experts, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work successfully in an interdisciplinary team environment and to collaborate effectively with colleagues and others from diverse fields.

Desired Qualifications:

• Deeper knowledge of life-cycle analysis (LCA) principles for assessing the cost, performance, and environmental impacts of industrial technology innovations.
• Ability to quantify key drivers and barriers to the development and adoption of sustainable energy technologies.
• Understanding of statistical, physical, and socio-political aspects of energy and environmental systems.
• Good programming skills for data analytics and the development of comprehensive tools for industrial assessments.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple principal investigators on concurrent projects.

For Consideration, please apply with the following application materials:

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of research experience and interests (2-page maximum)
• Names and contact information for 3-5 references
• Diversity statement (1-page maximum

Want to learn more about Berkeley Lab's Culture, Benefits and answers to FAQs? Please visit: https://recruiting.lbl.gov/

Notes:

• This is a full-time 2 year, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience. Salary for Postdoctoral positions depends on years of experience post-degree.
• This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
• The monthly salary range for this position is $6,891 / mo - $7,609.00 / mo  and is expected to start at $6,891 / mo or above.  Postdoctoral positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract and salaries will be predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates. Each step represents one full year of completed post-Ph.D. postdoctoral and/or related research experience.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

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