Postdoctoral Research Scholar: Accelerating Asia's Decarbonization Through Trade and Investment Policies

Position overview

Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar Employee Salary range: $69,073 - $79,881

Application Window

Open date: October 15, 2025

Most recent review date: Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Power Transformation Lab (https://pwrlab.org/) at the University of California San Diego is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scholar to contribute to a two-year project focused on helping Southeast and South Asian countries balance trade and investment with their decarbonization goals. The successful candidate will work with a team of researchers from the UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy and Griffith University, and with numerous civil society organizations in the region.

The researchers will be fully integrated into the UCSD community, which includes a highly interdisciplinary school of public policy scholars, robust campus units researching power and energy systems, and a world-class think tank studying contemporary China.

Research Focus

The project aims to identify and promote effective trade and investment policies to accelerate decarbonization. The research will involve:

• Data collection and modeling of trade, Chinese and non-Chinese investments, and localization policies in target geographies, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
• Collecting and analyzing existing clean energy trade and localization policies in Southeast and South Asia.
• Exploring the evolution of Chinese investments and alternative investment flows in shifting global value chains (GVCs) and export opportunities.
• Evaluating and preparing case studies where localization policies have successfully advanced or hindered decarbonization efforts.
• Proposing policy and investment strategies that balance localization objectives with decarbonization goals.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

At the time of application candidates must either have a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) or be ABD (all but dissertation) in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Applicants are required to hold a Ph.D. or received a Ph.D. degree by the start of the appointment.

Preferred qualifications

• Background in trade policy and energy economics
• Prior expertise or knowledge in the regional foci (South Asia, Southeast Asia, China)

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Job Market Paper (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/JPF04380

Help contact: gps-ap@ucsd.edu

Job location

San Diego, CA