Postdoctoral Associate, Institute Global Sustainability

Postdoctoral Associate, Institute for Global Sustainability

Join Boston University’s Institute for Global Sustainability (BU‑IGS) to advance research on socio‑technical barriers and opportunities for electrification of infrastructure.

BU‑IGS, in collaboration with Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Research Institute, invites applications for a prestigious two‑year postdoctoral fellowship. The fellowship focuses on accelerating electrification across high‑impact sectors and exploring the benefits, barriers, and risks to electrical infrastructure.

The project is structured into three interconnected phases over two years:

• Phase 1:
  Systematic literature reviews that map technical readiness, growth trajectories, emissions profiles, and existing barrier/driver/risk scholarship, culminating in a conceptual framework for empirical work.
• Phase 2:
  Stakeholder engagement through semi‑structured interviews informed by Phase 1, with thematic analysis to capture stakeholder perceptions, alignment, and tension, and to map influence networks.
• Phase 3:
  Technology foresight methods and futures thinking (expert workshops or public focus groups) to explore how emerging trends might reshape electrification pathways and highlight democratic tensions in energy governance.

• Compile a database of electrification stakeholders and illustrate influence networks across key sectors.
• Offer a systematic comparison of barriers, drivers, and risks in three next‑frontier sectors for electrification.
• Advance theory (and potentially methodology) for studying socio‑technical transitions in multi‑stakeholder systems, focusing on practical intervention points.
• Create actionable frameworks for stakeholder engagement and public communication in high‑stakes energy infrastructure contexts.
• Develop dynamic foresight on disruptive and converging trends in electrification adoption and capture emergent visions of futures.

Required Skills

• Completed PhD (or completion at appointment) in a relevant social science or interdisciplinary field (e.g., sociology, political science, public policy, geography, environmental studies, STS, or sustainability science).
• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research (systematic reviews, interviews, stakeholder analysis, and software such as NVivo/Atlas.ti).
• Deep familiarity with socio‑technical systems, sustainability transitions, or energy infrastructure governance.
• Strong research and academic writing track record with publications reflecting interdisciplinary rigor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Mixed‑methods expertise (including surveys, Q‑methodology, and foresight/horizon scanning).
• Topical knowledge or experience within focus sectors (aviation, shipping, data centers), grid/infrastructure, DER, or industrial decarbonization.
• Background in stakeholder engagement design, facilitation, or participatory workshops.
• Understanding of energy systems models or technical aspects of electrification (for boundary‑spanning with engineering disciplines).
• Experience with comparative or international research, ideally including North America and select global cases.

• Competitive salary ranging from $67,500 to $70,000 USD per year, commensurate with experience.
• Generous benefits package, including healthcare options.
• Research Leadership:
  Ownership of a high‑visibility project with leading academic and industry partners.
• Professional Development:
  Access to BU and Schneider training, mentorship, networks, and funding for conferences/publications.
• Community:
  Deep engagement with Boston/Cambridge sustainability research community.
• Career Support:
  Guidance for both academic/postdoc and non‑academic next steps.
• Impact:
  Chance to deliver insights driving public policy and industry practice at the heart of the energy transition.

Please email the following materials bundled as PDF attachments to Prof. Benjamin Sovacool at sovacool:

• Cover letter articulating qualifications and motivation.
• CV detailing academic background, relevant research methods expertise, publications, and presentations.
• Optional:
  Sample of writing demonstrating research…