Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Sustainable Buildings and Urban Development in the Era of Climate Change

Harvard University is launching the Sustainable Buildings and Urban Future Cluster—a bold, interdisciplinary research initiative designed to address the climate crisis through transformative innovation in the built environment. This pioneering effort brings together Harvard scholars and practitioners across chemistry, materials science, fluid mechanics, AI, computer science, architecture, and engineering to develop scalable, data-informed solutions in sustainable design, construction, and energy management.

The Cluster aims to modernize—and ultimately revolutionize—energy management by building on and scaling the HouseZero® concept—Harvard's prototype for ultra-efficient, naturally ventilated smart buildings—into interconnected communities. This unique initiative integrates three synergistic research thrusts:

1. Advanced thermal storage and sensing materials
2. Intelligent, building-scale integration of sensing and control systems
3. Cooperative, urban-scale energy management

Together, these research directions seek to reimagine how buildings and cities operate—optimizing energy use, enhancing human well-being, and reducing carbon emissions at scale.

We are seeking multiple Postdoctoral Researchers to join this collaborative effort. These three-year positions, starting September 1, 2025, are hosted by the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities and funded by the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. While the project is scheduled to launch in September, hiring may occur earlier, and selected candidates may have the opportunity to begin their appointments ahead of the official start date. Each postdoctoral researcher will work with one or more principal investigators (PIs) aligned with their domain expertise, while contributing to a highly integrated, interdisciplinary research team.

Key research areas include:

• Development of low-carbon materials and tunable thermal energy storage materials integrated with smart sensors and advanced algorithms
• Creation of Digital Twins for energy-efficient building and urban operation
• Exploration of novel Human-Building Interaction interfaces
• Design of cooperative energy-sharing systems across multiple buildings
• Integration of data-driven and physics-informed learning algorithms for scalable energy management and control
• Engagement with industry stakeholders to guide practical implementation and scale-up strategies

Ideal candidates will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Sustainable building systems or materials science
• Power system modeling, control systems, or HVAC alternatives
• IoT and sensor networks in the built environment
• AI or data-driven modeling and control for building and urban systems
• Human-centered or interaction design for smart systems

Postdoctoral researchers will collaborate closely with faculty from the Graduate School of Design, the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, as well as with industry experts. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a high-impact, interdisciplinary initiative at the forefront of climate innovation.

Leading faculty:

• Joanna Aizenberg, Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science
• Petros Koumoutsakos, Herbert S. Winokur Jr. Professor of Computing in Science and Engineering
• Na Li, Winokur Family Professor in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics
• Le Xie, Gordon McKay Professor of Electrical Engineering
• Ali Malkawi, Professor of Architectural Technology
• Jarad Mason, Associate Professor of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
• Vijay Janapa Reddi, John L. Loeb Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering

To apply, please submit a CV, a cover letter, a research statement, two example research papers, and the names of three references. In the cover letter, please list at least two co-PIs from the above list you would like to work with. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Final hiring decisions will be contingent on availability of funding.

Join us in redefining how we live, build, and share energy in a changing world.

Basic Qualifications:

The positions are intended for individuals who hold a Ph.D. or Doctorate Degree in a related area.

Salary Range:

$65,000 – $75,000