Kendall Fellowship: How Clean Are Clean Cars?

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Kendall Fellowship: How Clean Are Clean Cars?
Clean Vehicles Program
Location choice: Washington, DC or Berkeley, CA Office

 

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the leading science-based organization at the center of today’s most exciting and important policy debates, seeks outstanding candidates for the Kendall Science Fellows program. This up to two-year fellowship is open to candidates who will have completed their Ph.D. before fall 2013. The fellow will carry out research to comprehensively assess the cradle-to-grave environmental impact and resource implications of advanced vehicles (hybrid and electric) and compare them to conventional vehicles. The fellow will work with UCS staff to develop policy recommendations based on the findings and will present this work to media, policymakers, and the public and share findings at one or more major scientific or technical meeting. Candidates must have a strong background in lifecycle assessment/cradle-to-grave methodology or vehicle and fuel technology and excellent written and oral communication skills.

Founded in 1969, UCS is an independent, science-based nonprofit working for a healthy planet and safer world.  The Kendall Science Fellows Program was established to honor Nobel Prize winning physicist Henry Kendall who was with UCS from our beginnings and was the long-time chair of our board.  Kendall was known for his unique ability to shake up the status quo and catalyze new thinking, and UCS looks to Kendall Fellows to do the same. Priority will be given to innovative and forward-looking proposals that are primarily scientific, technical, or analytic in nature but also show interest in the application of science to policy. Fellows will benefit from the opportunity to learn from the UCS approach to science and policy, and UCS will benefit from the new approaches and expertise of the Kendall Fellows.

 

Responsibilities

The Kendall Fellow will spend up to two years conducting original analysis and evaluating existing research in order to comprehensively assess the environmental and resource footprint of hybrid and electric vehicles and compare them to conventional models. At the end of the fellowship, the Fellow should be able to answer some or all of the following questions:

• How much energy and pollution are linked to the manufacturing and disposal of advanced vehicles and their powertrains?
• Are there serious resource scarcity issues associated with the unique materials used in electric motors, batteries, fuel cells, and light-weight materials?
• Does gathering those materials pose serious environmental or social risks?
• How do resulting lifecycle assessments of advanced vehicles compare with those of conventional vehicles?
• Are there any other unintended consequences associated with advanced vehicles?
• Can policies be put in place to address any of the above issues?

In fulfilling this role, the Fellow will:

• generate written reports and scholarly articles on the fellowship topics;
• develop computer models and/or spread-sheet based comparative assessments of technologies;
• monitor and assess current and ongoing research and trends;
• communicate findings within UCS and to experts in the field, media, policymakers, and the public;
• serve as a spokesperson for the Kendall Fellows program;
• assist in developing and managing regulatory campaigns on key oil and transportation-related issues.

 

Qualifications and experience

The Kendall Fellow should have knowledge and experience with the science of either or both lifecycle/cradle-to-grave analysis and resource extraction and availability. Ideally, they would also have familiarity with advanced vehicle technologies such as batteries, fuel cells, electric motors, and high-strength lightweight materials. They should have experience handling and distilling large amounts of data, and be proficient in office technology, including word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, familiarity with computer operating systems and electronic communication systems. They should have strong written and verbal skills.

They should have interest in learning about effective communication of scientific information to general audiences, and either experience or interest in generating corporate or public policy to address energy or environmental issues.

A Ph.D. in a related scientific or engineering field is required.

Compensation, Hours and Location: This is a full-time, up to two-year position based in either UCS’s Washington, DC or Berkeley, CA office. Fellowship will begin fall 2013. UCS offers excellent benefits and is an equal opportunity employer continually seeking to diversify its staff.

To Apply: Please submit a short application, including a statement of interest (up to 2 pages, including relevant background and experience, a brief description of a research idea in the selected area, and interest in working with UCS), curriculum vitae, and two references to jobs@ucsusa.org including “Kendall Fellowship” and “Clean Cars” in the subject line.  Email materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls please.Deadline: December 14, 2012 or until filled.

Review of initial applications will begin January 1, 2013. Following an initial screening, top candidates will co-write a more specific fellowship proposal in coordination with UCS staff for submission to the Kendall Science Fellows Program Advisory Committee by January 31, 2013. Final decisions on the award of this competitive fellowship will be made by mid to late February, 2013.