Postdoctoral Scientist-Energy and Climate Modelling - SEI

Overview

The position holder will conduct research on energy, climate change and air quality supporting African countries to develop policies, strategies and action plans for energy, climate change and air quality and supporting integrated planning for water-energy-food (WEF) nexus analysis. A major role for the position holder will be to undertake emissions modelling using SEI’s LEAP (Low Emission Analysis Platform) tool, and other and other energy, air quality and climate modelling and management tools. The position holder will also be involved in policy engagement at national and African level, and contribute to capacity building activities, including training while also providing scientific advice to policy makers, local communities, and private sector actors.
Duties and responsibilities

Research, policy, and capacity development tasks

• Lead the Centre’s research on energy, air pollution and climate modeling using the LEAP (Low-Emissions Analysis Platform) tool and other energy and air pollution modeling tools to quantify current and projected energy supply and demand, air pollutants and greenhouse gases across different sectors, considering drivers of change, including social and macro-economic drivers;
• Lead and coordinate internal and external capacity-building initiatives, including coordinating training and providing technical support for users of SEI’s Decision Support Tool (LEAP) for energy, air pollution, and climate modeling;
• Lead projects, including coordinating project teams, and contributing to research design, data collection and archiving, data analysis, writing of publications, and dissemination of findings through seminars, workshops, conferences, and other public outreach activities;
• Support the Centre’s engagement in key policy processes on air quality and climate change, including implementation of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution 3/8 on preventing and reducing air pollution, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), among others, at the national, regional and global levels;
• Provide thought leadership on sustainable energy, air pollution, and climate modeling by identifying, analysing, and proposing actions by SEI to respond to emerging environment and development issues related to sustainable energy, air pollution, and climate change at the global, regional, and national levels;
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of the Energy and Climate Change Programme’s work plan, including budget preparation, programme design, knowledge management, and implementation of research projects;
• Supervise postgraduate students and contribute to teaching and training at universities that have partnership arrangements with SEI.

Project specific tasks

• Lead emissions modelling to support SEI’s work on Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) and Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), including the Africa Methane Community of Practice (AmCoP) and the development of methane roadmaps in Gabon, Senegal and Chad
• Provide support to the development of Africa Clean Air Programme (ACAP)
• Undertake climate modelling and development of scenarios for the project “Applying the Water-Energy-Food Nexus to Promote Ecosystem Based Adaptation in the Ewaso Ng’iro North River Catchment, Kenya.”
• Support the implementation of the EU funded project ONEPlanET (OpeN source Nexus modelling tools for Planning sustainable Energy Transition in Africa).
• Work on existing and new projects as assigned by the supervisor.

Business development

• Lead and/or support the preparation of project concept notes, research proposals, and grant applications in accordance with SEI strategic objectives.

Requirements

• Ph.D. degree in energy, engineering, environmental science, climate science, atmospheric chemistry, or relevant interdisciplinary studies;
• Research experience in energy, climate and air pollution modeling. Experience and skills in using SEI’s Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) will be an added advantage;
• Research, policy, and capacity development experience in climate and air quality management, and related areas preferably applied research that informs policy and decision-making in the African context;
• Knowledge and understanding of energy, climate, and air quality policies in related sectors;
• Experience in communicating scientific information to a range of different audiences;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working with multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams
• Fluency in English or French is a requirement, and strong ability in one or more additional international language(s), with excellent writing skills.