Python Job: Research Scholar - Climate Scenarios for the Finan

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Location

Laxenburg - Austria

Job type

Full-Time

Python Job Details

Deadline: Until filled
57-2022

57-2022

Research Scholar - Climate Scenarios for the Finance Sector

IIASA ENERGY, CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT (ECE) PROGRAM

The Sustainable Service Systems (S3) Research Group within the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Program is recruiting a Research Scholar in Integrated Assessment Modeling for Climate Finance.

The successful candidate will work with a team of international scientists to further develop the MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM framework and apply the framework for the development, processing, and publication of scenarios related to the financial sector.

overview

The ECE Program hosts one of the world’s leading Integrated Assessment Modeling (IAM) teams focusing on systems transformations toward environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The Program employs a diverse set of cutting-edge systems engineering, macroecomic and agent-based tools. The research focuses on trade-offs and synergies between multiple policy priorities and objectives, typically across multiple sectors and scales (global, regional, national, and subnational). ECE’s scientific outputs inform policy efforts related to climate change (e.g., implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement) as well as Financial actors and decision makers, such as the Network for Greening the Financial System (https://www.ngfs.net/ngfs-scenarios-portal/) and the UNEP-Finance Initiative (https://www.unepfi.org/).

tasks and responsibilities

  • Contribute to the development of the global MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM model, the open source MESSAGEix modeling framework, and related software tools and data sets.
  • Coordinate data exchange and interoperability with other modeling tools connected to the IAM framework, including, but not limited to, models that are relevant for representing the financial sector in IAMs (e.g., financial risk models).
  • Develop methods to bridge across spatial and sectoral scales when providing integrated assessment modeling outputs to finance sector users.
  • Develop guidance and documentation of integrated assessment models and climate scenarios for users in the financial sector.
  • Publish relevant results in peer-reviewed journals and actively engage in dissemination efforts such as scientific conferences and workshops, stakeholder and policy events.
  • Contribute to external fundraising / grant applications, related to integrated assessment modeling and climate finance.
  • Beyond conducting research related to the main areas highlighted above, the successful candidate is also expected to contribute to other ongoing and future projects and related deliverables, reports, stakeholder communication and capacity building activities.
  • In line with the team spirit that prevails at IIASA, the incumbent may occasionally work on other tasks assigned by their superiors, that might not be directly related to this appointment but where the post holder has relevant experience and skills, and/or a shortage of immediate personnel capabilities requires such.

skills, qualifications, and experience

  • PhD degree combined with relevant research experience in integrated assessment modeling, climate finance or related fields.
  • Expertise and experience in processing large datasets, preferably in Python or R, is essential.
  • Experience with frameworks for mathematical optimization (GAMS, pyomo, JuMP, etc.) and numerical solvers for large-scale problems.
  • Demonstrated ability to contribute to open-source projects, data provision and code-development, preferably using git and GitHub.
  • Strong publication profile in leading journals with a competitive research citation profile.
  • A degree of flexibility and willingness to travel.
  • Fluency in English and excellent presentation skills.
  • IIASA offers an interdisciplinary and international workplace, and the possibility to interact with researchers of different nationalities, with strong ties to a world-wide network of research institutions engaged in environmental systems research. The successful candidate must be able to work in, and have respect for, an intercultural environment, and IIASA core values.

appointment terms

The selected candidate should be available to take up the position as soon as possible. We offer an initial fixed-term, one year, full-time (40 hours per week) employment contract, with the possibility of extension after the first years' work. Eligible applicants wishing to work part-time hours will also be considered.

Duties will be carried out at the IIASA premises in Laxenburg, near Vienna in Austria (up to 100 days per year home office working within Austria possible). Some travel will be required.

The successful candidate will be hired as a Research Scholar (R2) or Researcher (R1) in accordance with their corresponding profile in the IIASA profiles for research careers.

WE OFFER

A gross annual, full-time salary of minimum:

EUR 44,204.00 for R2 Research Scholars.

EUR 33,924.00 for R1 Researchers.

IIASA salaries are:

  • Exempt from income tax in Austria
  • Negotiable, based on the qualifications, skills and experience of the selected individual.
  • Subject to deductions for health insurance and/or social security.
  • Not directly comparable with other employers in Austria, due to the unique legal status and privileges granted to IIASA.
  • Subject to the principle of income aggregation (Progressionsvorbehalt in German).

In addition:

  • Educational subsidies for children of school age enrolled in private schools in Austria.
  • A generous annual leave allowance.
  • Moving and settlement allowances and paid home leave for employees in scientific and professional categories hired from international locations.
  • Assistance for newcomers to Austria with visa, work and residency permit applications.
  • Support finding accommodation in Austria.

Further details here.

About IIASA

IIASA is committed to a working environment that promotes equality, diversity, tolerance and inclusion within its workforce. This is reflected in our IIASA core values. We encourage qualified candidates from all religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds to apply. In the case that candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to applicants from countries where IIASA has a National Member Organization (NMO).

Further Information

For further information about this opportunity please contact:

Dr. Bas van Ruijven, S3 Research Group Leader

For general information about working at IIASA: [email protected]


Applications


To apply for this opportunity, you will need to provide the following documents in English:

  • A cover letter outlining your motivation for and fit to the position
  • A detailed Curriculum Vitae
  • The names, addresses (including e-mail), and telephone numbers of two work-related reference givers.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the post has been filled.

Deadline for receipt of applications: until filled