The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center seeks an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher to lead our Energy and Climate work stream at the Global China Initiative (GCI). The Global China Initiative advances policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions to enable financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Within GCI, research is conducted across four programs: Energy and Climate, Forestry, Agriculture and Indigenous Rights (FAIR), China and the International Financial Architecture (CHIFA), and Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.).

Specifically, the mission of the energy and climate team is to produce policy oriented, evidence based and theoretical driven research to decarbonize Chinese overseas economic activity; accelerate inclusive low-carbon and facilitate green structural transformation in developing countries. An ideal candidate must have a strong background in energy and climate research with regards to Chinese overseas engagement, particularly in the following areas:

China’s role in just energy transition in developing countries; Composition and impacts of China’s overseas energy projects; Political and economic factors determining energy choices by China and countries that borrow or receive financing from China.

The primary responsibilities of the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic include

Conducting peer reviewed rigorous research on topics related to: China’s global energy finance and implications for climate change; the role of development finance in catalyzing energy transition in developing countries; policy proposals for greening China’s overseas economic engagement; and other relevant areas as determined by GCI. Developing and managing an energy and climate research portfolio in collaboration with by BU faculty members, non-resident scholars, and pre/post docs. This requires a strong ability to identify innovative and strategic questions for policy design and the ability to manage researchers who lead/operationalize the projects. Engaging with policy makers in China and elsewhere abroad on the policy implications of GCI’s research, as well as engaging in strategic communications through traditional and digital media platforms in English and Chinese. Leading the planning and execution of research across project life cycle, including conceptualization, data collection and analysis, drafting, revision, journal submission, policy engagement and so on, for both researcher’s own project as well as others under the energy and climate team. Representing GCI at policy events and conferences to advance our research findings.

This is an in-person position at Boston University.