Eads Professor of the Practice in Energy

The successful candidate will contribute to the Nicholas School's teaching and educational programs in energy, with particular emphasis on preparing students to understand and address the rapidly evolving challenges facing energy systems. The candidate will also be affiliated with the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability and engage in activities with decision-makers in the public and private sector. While we are particularly interested in energy finance experience, we welcome candidates from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds, including economics, finance, business, public policy, engineering, environmental science, or related fields, as well as from a range of energy sector experiences.

We will consider applications from those completing or recently completing a PhD or other terminal degree, if they have industry, government, consulting, nonprofit, or other professional experience, and demonstrate exceptional promise as teachers and contributors to Duke's energy community.

Teaching and Advising Responsibilities

The Eads Professor of the Practice will teach and advise students in the Nicholas School's professional master's and undergraduate programs and may contribute to other Duke educational programs related to energy. Teaching, advising, and service will account for approximately three-quarters of the position's responsibilities and will include a course load equivalent to 3.5 semester-long courses per academic year, advising master's projects and independent studies, and mentoring students pursuing careers in energy. The remaining one-quarter will be devoted to professional practice aligned with the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability.

A central responsibility of the position will be teaching a course on Energy Finance. This course should provide students with the concepts and analytical tools needed to understand and evaluate financial decisions and investments in the energy sector.

Depending on the candidate's expertise and the needs of the School, the successful candidate may also develop and teach courses in areas such as:

• Energy economics
• Microgrids and distributed energy systems
• Renewable energy and energy storage
• Energy infrastructure and project development
• Energy policy and regulation
• Corporate energy and decarbonization strategies
• Emerging energy technologies and business models
• Artificial intelligence, data centers, and energy systems
• Power Systems planning, operations, and markets

We are particularly interested in candidates who can connect fundamental concepts with practical decision-making and expose students to the tradeoffs involved in real-world energy decisions.

Practice

Beyond formal teaching, the successful candidate will contribute to the intellectual and professional community surrounding energy at Duke through their appointment at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability. This may include engaging with energy companies, electric power utilities, financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, and other external partners; bringing practitioners and experts to campus; developing experiential learning opportunities; and helping students connect their academic training with emerging energy challenges and career opportunities.

We welcome different forms of contribution to this community. More experienced candidates may bring extensive professional networks, leadership experience, or sector expertise, while early-career candidates may bring emerging areas of expertise, new analytical approaches, innovative teaching ideas, or experience with rapidly developing energy technologies and markets.

Duke University, the Nicholas School, and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability provide an especially rich environment for interdisciplinary work on energy. The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty and programs across Duke working in energy systems, climate change, environmental science, sustainability, engineering, economics, public policy, business, law, data science, and related fields, as well as through Duke's university-wide climate and sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

Candidates should have:

• A PhD or terminal degree in economics, finance, business, public policy, environmental science, engineering, management, law, or another field relevant to energy. Demonstrated expertise in energy through professional, academic, or applied work.
• A strong interest in interdisciplinary energy education.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching or strong potential to become an excellent teacher.
• The ability to communicate complex technical, economic, financial, environmental, or policy concepts effectively to students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds.
• An interest in connecting classroom learning with real-world energy challenges.

Application Details

Application Requirements

Applications can be submitted online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32821 and must include:

• A cover letter describing the applicant's interest in the position and how their background would contribute to energy education at the Nicholas School;
• A current curriculum vitae;
• A statement describing the applicant's approach to teaching and mentoring, including courses they would be interested in teaching or developing at Duke;
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness, if available
• A statement describing the applicant's professional practice;
• Three representative examples of professional practice, scholarship, or other relevant work; and
• A list of three references who may be contacted later in the search process.

Review of applications will begin November 1, and applications received by that date will be given full consideration. We will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2027.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to EadsEnergySearch@duke.edu

About the Nicholas School of the Environment

The Nicholas School of the Environment is committed to developing knowledge and leaders capable of addressing the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Its faculty span the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, economics, policy, finance, and management, creating a highly interdisciplinary environment for research and education.

The position will be based on Duke University's main campus in Durham, North Carolina. Duke is a world-class research university with extensive opportunities for collaboration across the Nicholas School, the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Fuqua School of Business, Pratt School of Engineering, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke Law School, and other schools, institutes, and programs.

About the Nicholas Institute

The Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University accelerates solutions to critical energy and environmental challenges, advancing a more just, resilient, and sustainable world. The Institute conducts and supports actionable research and undertakes sustained engagement with policymakers, businesses, and communities, in addition to delivering transformative educational experiences to empower future leaders.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Reference Checks

Please note that Duke specifically seeks information about past misconduct or policy violations (in the past ten (10) years) and/or relevant pending investigations as part of the application process. Disclosures will not be an automatic bar to hiring but, instead, will initiate further dialogue regarding past actions and steps taken to address them. Disclosures will not be shared with search committees during the application review process.

Salary and benefits

Salary will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and rank. The base annual salary corresponds to a nine-month academic-year appointment and can be supplemented with additional summer salary from grants and other sources. Duke University also offers a comprehensive benefits package; additional information is available through Duke Human Resources — Benefits at Duke.