Would you like to further your career by applying your quantitative energy and economic skills at one of the UK’s leading research-intensive Universities? Do you have an ability to work at the forefront of the emerging field of exergy economics to find new insights to an urgent global issue: how can we decouple energy use from economic growth? If so, this could be the opportunity for you.

The research project: “Applying thermodynamic laws to the energy-GDP decoupling problem” 

Meeting the 2015 Paris Agreement’s ambition relies heavily on reducing global energy use through increased energy efficiency. However, despite decades of energy efficiency policies and investment, global growth in energy consumption and economic output (GDP) remain tightly coupled. New insights and methods are thus urgently needed to unlock how energy-GDP decoupling can be achieved. In response the five year project, led by Dr Paul Brockway, explores the decoupling problem using pioneering analytical methods being developed by the Exergy Economics research community, at which the University of Leeds is at the forefront. This emerging field applies ‘exergy’ as the thermodynamic-based measure of energy quality: the ability of energy to do physical work. You will be working to deliver the agreed work programme with the team at Leeds. You will apply your quantitative energy and macroeconomic skills to key research questions including: What is the relationship between energy efficiency and energy rebound? How much energy will we need to meet our future energy service demands? You will benefit from close links to project partners, including the Instituto Superio Tecnico (IST) in Portugal and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Through our access to key decision makers, there lies an opportunity to make real research impact.

Based at the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), you will be part of a dynamic network of researchers who specialise in alternative energy-economy modelling approaches, including SRI-based research centres Living Well Within Limits (LiLi), and the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS). Together, we have a very strong track record of publishing in high ranking peer-reviewed journals. This post is based in Leeds, with some international travel required.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Paul Brockway, University Academic Fellow 

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 5576, email: p.e.brockway@leeds.ac.uk

Location:      Leeds - Main Campus
Faculty/Service:      Faculty of Environment
School/Institute:      School of Earth and Environment
Category:      Research
Grade:      Grade 7
Salary:      £33,199 to £39,609 p.a.
Due to funding limitations the post can only be appointed at no higher than spine point 30 -£33,199 p.a.
Working Time:      100% - Job share and flexible working arrangements will be considered
Post Type:      Full Time
Contract Type:      Fixed Term (for 3 years due to external funding)
Closing Date:      Thursday 25 July 2019
Downloads:  Candidate Brief