Working at MIT offers opportunities, an environment, a culture – and benefits – that just aren’t found together anywhere else. If you’re curious, motivated, want to be part of a unique community, and help shape the future – then take a look at this opportunity.

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, Center for Real Estate (CRE)-MIT Sustainable Urbanization Lab (MIT/SUL), to work in the area of urban sustainability. The goal of the appointment is to provide experiences/opportunities that will help launch a successful academic career. Will work in the research area of environmental sustainability, using a combination of large datasets from social media and field experiments to estimate behavioral responses, market reactions, and social costs of air pollution and climate change events.  (Relevant studies are available here: paper 1; paper 2; paper 3; paper 4; paper 5.)  There will be teaching opportunities in the field of urban economics, real estate, and environmental economics; and opportunities to collaborate with other researchers and to present at conferences (virtually and/or in person).

Led by Professor Siqi Zheng, MIT/SUL’s goal is to establish behavioral foundations for urban and environmental planning and policies aimed at sustainable urbanization in the most rapidly urbanizing regions of the world.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED:  Ph.D. in economics, computer science, psychology, data science, econometrics, or related field by the beginning of employment; expertise in data science, quasi-experimental empirical research, and/or design of field experiments; interest in advancing understanding of social costs of air pollution and climate change and behavioral adaptation; independent evidence of competence in these areas (doctoral thesis and papers); and discretion with confidential information/issues.

PREFERRED:  familiarity with computational and/or behavioral science.  Applications from those whose research focuses on the broader consequences of climate change and air pollution on individual behavior, performance, and health, and the implications for urban economy and real estate are encouraged.  There is particular interest in applicants interested in research at the intersection of social science (economics, psychology) and computational science.  Job #19140

Interested candidates should submit a single pdf that includes a cover letter (including a description of your research experience and aspirations) expressing your interest and motivation for applying for this position, a current curriculum vitae, a completed research paper, and three letters of reference by January 15, 2021.

MIT/SUL will conduct virtual interviews starting in January 2021 due to the continued uncertainties related to the potential spread of COVID-19.

The term of this position is for up to two years, with the potential to extend the appointment. Terms and start dates are negotiable.