Research Scientist 1

MIT • Cambridge, MA

10d

About The Position

The Research Scientist 1 will work in the Center for Sustainability Science & Strategy (CS3), assessing how energy and industrial systems interact with natural resources, ecosystems, and society, and how decarbonization pathways affect environmental and social sustainability. The research will inform decisions about emissions-reduction pathways while considering resource constraints, environmental impacts, and cross-sector tradeoffs.

The scientist will collaborate with economists; energy, land, water, air, and infrastructure modelers; climate and social scientists; statisticians; and software engineers. The role will contribute to CS3’s MATRIX project, which develops and applies a flexible, modular, multi-sector, cross-scale human–climate–impacts modeling framework to assess sustainability impacts and tradeoffs. Research will examine feedbacks among economic activity, industrial and energy systems, and environmental conditions under uncertainty.

This is a one-year position, with the possibility of extension. The earliest start date is January 1, 2027. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by November 6, 2026; later applications may be considered until the position is filled. Applicants should provide a cover letter specifying relevant qualifications, current research interests, and expertise; a curriculum vitae; one peer-reviewed publication; and two recommendation letters.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in industrial ecology, environmental engineering, environmental economics, environmental science, sustainability science, or a related field.
• At least two years of post-Ph.D. research experience.
• Expertise in at least one relevant domain, such as energy, climate, water, land, agriculture, air quality, or biodiversity, and ability to apply that expertise to research on the sustainability implications of energy and industrial systems.
• Strong computational and modeling background, with coding skills in at least one programming or mathematical modeling language.
• Experience with GitHub and open-source programming.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, exercise analytical judgment, solve research problems, and communicate findings effectively in writing and orally.
• Self-motivation, strong interpersonal skills, ability to deliver results and adapt to change, and ability to contribute to research proposals and work in an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Assess interactions between energy and industrial systems and natural resources, ecosystems, and society.
• Evaluate how decarbonization pathways affect environmental and social sustainability, including resource constraints, environmental impacts, and cross-sector tradeoffs.
• Conduct research on feedbacks among economic activity, industrial and energy systems, and environmental conditions under uncertainty.
• Contribute to CS3’s MATRIX project and its human–climate–impacts modeling framework.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research colleagues.
• Contribute to research proposals and communicate research findings effectively in writing and orally.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree