Postdoctoral Scholar

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) Building Technology Urban Systems Division has an opening for a Postdoctoral Scholar to join the team.

This position is in the Whole Building Systems (WBS) department of the Building Technology and Urban Systems (BTUS) division. This position will contribute to studies focused on home electrification and decarbonization. Specific activities will include assessment of low power electrification strategies and grid impacts of home electrification in both single and multifamily residential buildings. Additional work may include studies of non-energy benefits of home electrification including IAQ/Heath, comfort, equity and resiliency.

What You Will Do:

• Conduct research on home energy and power consumption, retrofits and decarbonization with a focus on reducing costs through low power electrification and analysis of grid impacts to control future costs and enable greater scaling.
• Conduct to assess the non-energy benefits of home electrification/decarbonization. This includes IAQ/Health-related topics as well as thermal comfort, mental health and home resiliency.
• Contribute to field data collection and data processing to advance LBNL studies of decarbonization in residential buildings.
• Build databases and carry out statistical analyses that are relevant to quantifying the relationships between building decarbonization strategies, GHG emissions, costs, public health, and equity issues. 
• Communicate research results through technical reports, journal manuscripts, web pages, etc. and oral presentations at meetings.
• Participate in professional scientific activities, e.g., reviews of papers, research proposals, etc.

Additional Responsibilities as needed:

• Support and contribute to the development of research project ideas and proposals.
• Interact with federal and California state energy and environmental agencies including but not limited to the Department of Energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC), and California Air Resources Board (ARB).
• As opportunities arise and time allows, provide support to other projects and groups within the Energy Technologies Area of LBNL. 

What is Required:

• Ph.D. degree in relevant science or engineering field or equivalent. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of building energy use and decarbonization strategies, with an emphasis on residential buildings.
• General knowledge of physical processes that impact energy use, power consumption and IAQ in buildings. 
• Familiarity with building science principles and technologies that impact IAQ and energy use. 
• Experience in the use of statistical analysis software and using predictive models, such as regression, classification, and other machine learning tasks
• Ability to independently execute tasks that require critical thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical publications.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• General knowledge of survey instruments and database design/management.
• General knowledge of building codes and standards, practices and technologies.
• Experience analyzing building power data, such as utility metering data or building submetering data.
• Experience with research involving human subjects.
• Experience with field measurements of Energy, IEQ, IAQ, and health metrics.

For Consideration, please apply by 06/01/24 with the following application materials:

• Cover Letter - Describe your interest in this position and the relevance of your background
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume

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 $7,790 / mo - $8,701.00 / mo  and is expected to start at $7,790 / 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.

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links:

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