Job Opportunities

The Center for Global Sustainability (CGS, cgs.umd.edu) at the University of Maryland is looking for Post-Bachelors/Masters Research Analyst(s) with strong analytical and communication skills and a desire to apply those skills in support of climate and sustainability issues. This position will be a full-time appointment for one year and renewable to two years based on performance. 

The mission of CGS is, through our research and policy engagement, to change the way that governments, diverse organizations, and people around the world envision and implement new possibilities for ambitious climate action. Our team has significant and diverse experience in both delivering field-leading research and informing, supporting, and implementing policy in national and international contexts.

The Post-Bachelors/Masters Research Analyst will work with CGS and our collaborators, as appropriate, to develop and apply robust and innovative research approaches to better understand pathways to reach challenging and ambitious climate and sustainability goals at international, national, and/or subnational levels. Such research approaches may include integrated quantitative analysis and modeling, empirical methods, qualitative and mixed methods, or other approaches to understanding energy systems, land use, non-CO2 climate forcers, and other topics at the center of climate policy and sustainability debates. 

Specific project areas may include but are not limited to the following:

• Near- and long-term climate and development strategies in key countries
• All-of-society approaches to climate action and mitigation
• Articulating and quantifying the benefits of climate action
• Financing the energy and climate transition toward net zero
• Just and equitable energy and economic transitions
• Strategies for fossil fuel phaseout
• Non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, including methane
• Decarbonization strategies for the industrial, transportation, and other sectors
• Agricultural and other land-related mitigation options

Primary duties and tasks of this position may include:

• Conduct background research and analysis of climate, energy, environment, and sustainable development policies.
• Conduct background research on energy technology trends.
• Collect and synthesize data for use in quantitative, integrated modeling.
• Process, analyze, and visualize data.
• Modify and run an integrated assessment model (GCAM) to produce different policy and technology scenarios.
• Process and downscale model outputs to needed resolution.
• Contribute to developing reports and research papers.
• Support policy engagements with key local, national, and international stakeholders.
• Use a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods to address key research questions.

The candidate should be self-motivated, team-oriented, and interested in developing and applying high-quality research to inform policy on climate and sustainability issues. 

Specific required and preferred skills are: 

Minimum qualifications:

• Education:
  • For Post-Bachelor’s: Candidates must have received a Bachelor’s degree within the past 24 months from an accredited college or university.
  • For Post-Master’s: Candidates must have received a Master’s degree within the past 24 months from an accredited college or university.
• Excellent English language proficiency required, particularly written. 

Desired qualifications:

• Degree in Public Policy, Engineering, Economics, or related field, with knowledge in climate, energy, and sustainability issues.
• Background in quantitative analysis, data collection, and management.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Coding skills in R and/or Python.
• Dedication and strong ability to learn quickly.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.

To apply, please visit: https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/111044. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Best consideration will be by March 11th, 2024.

About the Center for Global Sustainability: Through world-leading research and policy engagement, the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland seeks to change the way governments, communities, businesses, and people can envision and implement possibilities for ambitious climate action. In a world with rapidly changing politics, technology, and knowledge about new opportunities, we develop and apply diverse research methodologies to illuminate pathways to success in realizing a higher-ambition trajectory toward our shared climate, energy, and sustainability goals. CGS has programs advancing understanding of: ambitious national and state climate strategies, fossil phase-out, energy innovation and technology, climate finance, and other priorities globally and in diverse country contexts, including programs in the United States, China, Indonesia, India, and Brazil, with additional projects and expertise in other major economies and a program supporting the State of Maryland. CGS supports over 50 researchers and works with a rich community of collaborators around the world. We also support building future research and policy leaders through our mentoring and education for students at the undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. levels at the University of Maryland and through our early career scholars’ program. CGS is housed within the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, which focuses on integrating practice with research, blending national and international policy, and working at all policy levels from local to global. It grants degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. It currently counts in its community roughly 800 undergraduates, 300 graduate students, 500 Executive Program students, 60 staff, and 80 faculty. The University of Maryland, College Park, is a land-grant, sea-grant, top ten R1 public research university, and is the major research university in the Washington, DC area, located 8 miles from the U.S. Capitol. It has an annual budget of $2.1 billion and administers approximately $1.2 billion in combined University of Maryland annual research awards. It has strengths in climate, energy, and environmental policy, climate and earth sciences, remote sensing, climate and energy modeling, and the social sciences. More information is available at cgs.umd.edu.

Diversity Statement: The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. The Center for Global Sustainability is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive world both within our community and through collaborative research and action. Read the CGS Vision on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion here.

Background Checks: Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.