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Postdoctoral Associate, Materials Systems Lab
  • Job Number: 23927
  • Functional Area: Research - Social Science
  • Department: Materials Research Laboratory
  • School Area: VP Research
  • Employment Type: Full-time (Hybrid)
  • Employment Category: Exempt
  • Visa Sponsorship Available: Yes
  • Schedule:


Posting Description

POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, Materials Research Laboratory (MRL)-Materials Systems Lab (MSL), to conduct research on the economic and environmental aspects of materials systems.  Will work on the extraction, processing, and recovery of minerals related to the energy transition. The research will focus on several of the following topics: dynamic modeling of materials markets, consequential life cycle assessment methodology and development of methods to understand the implications of technology development on dynamics in materials supply chains, identification of the social characteristics associated with materials supply risk, and/or process-based cost modeling of materials systems. System and process models will be developed and applied in the research. The position will involve collaborating and interacting with faculty/postdoctoral associates/research sponsors and supervising undergraduate and graduate students.  

Job Requirements

REQUIRED:  Ph.D. in engineering discipline (preferably materials science, chemical engineering, or industrial ecology), resource economics, or related discipline; interest in mining and the energy transition; experience and competency in quantitative analysis, including applied econometrics; solid background in thermodynamics and materials flows; proficiency with statistical software, e.g., STATA, R, Python; strong organizational, time-management, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills; ability to effectively communicate research results in the form of juried research journal articles and oral presentations; willingness to travel to visit research partners and present research at conferences; and attention to detail and accuracy.  Must be able to set clear priorities while managing multiple timelines and objectives; work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment; and interact effectively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including those from non-governmental organizations, industry, and government agencies.  PREFERRED:  experience in applied theoretical modeling; and expertise in statistics, economics, process modeling, optimization, and computer programming.  Job #23927

The position is located in Cambridge, MA, and relocation will be expected.

The following material--submitted as a single PDF--is required as part of your application: a brief cover letter including date of availability, suitability and motivation for the role, interest in this project, qualifications or related experience; general research/goals statement; detailed curriculum vitae (CV); official or unofficial copy of diploma(s)/university certificate(s); and contact information including email addresses for three references to support the application.  This material should be submitted via the MIT website and sent directly (also as a single PDF) to Dr. Elizabeth Moore at eamoore@mit.edu with the subject line: Postdoctoral application – [Your name]:

The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

4/11/24