Post Doctoral Researcher – Energy Systems Analyst and Modeller
Applications are invited for the role of a Post Doctoral Researcher – energy systems analyst and modeller.
Project Title: Safeguarding Ireland’s Energy Transition against Critical Materials Supply Disruption and Geopolitical Dynamics
Post Duration: 19 Months, Whole-Time Post
Salary: €45,847-€52,339 per annum, IUA PD1
For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Vahid Aryanpur, Email: ei.ccu@rupnayra.dihav
Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to ei.ccu@tnemtiurcer, quoting the job-title and project name.
Position Summary
The research project, SHIELD, is funded by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It aims to analyse Ireland’s energy system transition in light of international energy security challenges. As Ireland moves towards a carbon-neutral future, global geopolitical dynamics and uncertainties in the supply of critical materials threaten energy system resilience. This transition relies on advanced technologies and renewable fuels. Therefore, unlike traditional fossil-based energy system, advanced technologies and alternative fuels will play a key role in future Ireland’s energy systems. Consequently, Ireland must address new energy security risks, such as the limited availability or high cost of clean technologies and zero-emission fuels, as well as traditional cross-border risks in power and gas interconnectors.
Through both qualitative and quantitative analysis, SHIELD identifies and tackles these challenges, helping Ireland address external energy security risks. This multidisciplinary project addresses the complexities of the energy transition by balancing energy security, affordability, and environmental sustainability. It will provide critical evidence to support effective policymaking.
The key objectives of this project are:
- Identifying global risks that may impact the resilience of energy system transition across energy security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.
- Mapping interactions between global risks, especially geopolitical conflicts and critical materials supply chain disruptions, and their effects on Ireland’s energy system.
- Quantifying the impacts of the identified global risks on energy supply and demand in Ireland.
- Analysing vulnerabilities and uncertainties related to critical materials supply disruptions and their effects on Ireland’s energy transition.
- Identifying potential risk mitigation solutions that could strengthen Ireland’s energy resilience. This includes exploring the benefits and trade-offs of electrification, diversifying, interconnection, storage, and demand-side solutions.
- Assessing potential solutions for building a resilient energy system and prioritise actions to secure energy, ensure affordability, and mitigate environmental impacts
- Assessing the implications of regional and global disruptions in energy imports on Ireland’s energy security.
This role involves high-impact analysis of external shocks to the energy decarbonisation pathway. The selected candidate will focus on assessing energy security challenges in Ireland, particularly cross-border risks under Ireland’s decarbonisation pathways. Moreover, the impact of various risk mitigation solutions such as electrification, energy storage, enhanced interconnections, energy diversification, and demand control strategies are quantified.
The ideal candidate will have a PhD in engineering, science, or economics, with strong quantitative and analytical skills, and a background in energy transition analysis and policy-relevant, multidisciplinary research.
The applicant must display a broad understanding of the energy system and energy security challenges. The candidate should be a skilled communicator with experience in policy analysis. Supervisory skills, leadership potential, stakeholder engagement experience and having raised and managed research funds will also be an advantage. The ideal candidate would have a track record of strong peer reviewed journal publications appropriate to their experience.
Experience with energy and power systems modelling frameworks such as TIMES and PLEXOS or similar is highly valued
Fluent written and spoken English is an essential requirement.
Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 23rd of May 2025
No late applications will be accepted.
