What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Research Scholar: Accelerating Asia's Decarbonization Through Trade position at UC San Diego?
Open date: October 15, 2025
Next review date: Monday, Nov 17, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
The Power Transformation Lab (https://pwrlab.org/) at the University of California San Diego is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scholar to contribute to a two-year project focused on helping Southeast and South Asian countries balance trade and investment with their decarbonization goals. The successful candidate will work with a team of researchers from the UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy and Griffith University, and with numerous civil society organizations in the region.
The researchers will be fully integrated into the UCSD community, which includes a highly interdisciplinary school of public policy scholars, robust campus units researching power and energy systems, and a world-class think tank studying contemporary China.
Research Focus
The project aims to identify and promote effective trade and investment policies to accelerate decarbonization. The research will involve:
- Data collection and modeling of trade, Chinese and non-Chinese investments, and localization policies in target geographies, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
- Collecting and analyzing existing clean energy trade and localization policies in Southeast and South Asia.
- Exploring the evolution of Chinese investments and alternative investment flows in shifting global value chains (GVCs) and export opportunities.
- Evaluating and preparing case studies where localization policies have successfully advanced or hindered decarbonization efforts.
- Proposing policy and investment strategies that balance localization objectives with decarbonization goals.
At the time of application candidates must either have a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) or be ABD (all but dissertation) in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field.
Applicants are required to hold a Ph.D. or received a Ph.D. degree by the start of the appointment.
- Background in trade policy and energy economics
- Prior expertise or knowledge in the regional foci (South Asia, Southeast Asia, China)
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research
Job Market Paper (Optional)
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Help contact: gps-ap@ucsd.edu
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
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Salary : $69,073 - $79,881
