The post-doc will join a team of researchers in NREL’s Strategic Energy Analysis Center (SEAC; www.nrel.gov/analysis) who perform environmental sustainability assessments of energy technologies. With objective, technology-neutral analysis, SEAC aims to increase understanding of energy policies, markets, resources, technologies, and infrastructure to address U.S. economic, security, and environmental priorities.

SEAC will be providing primary support to defining, developing and supporting the research agenda and activities in the area of circular economy for energy technologies and materials. This will likely involve leading projects for clients in the Department of Energy as well as developing new externally-funded projects. Initially the work of this post-doc will be focused on collaboration within SEAC, which is comprised of engineers and other quantitative analysts, but since these activities are lab-wide, opportunity for collaboration with scientists and engineers in other parts of the lab (e.g., National Center for Photovoltaics (PV), National Center for Wind Technologies, National Bioenergy Center (which also addresses bioproducts, etc.) can be sought by enterprising candidates.

Starting with a case study on PV, the post-doctoral fellow will develop integrated models of multiple end-of-life fates for energy technologies to gain insight into the economic drivers (under current and alternative policy regimes) of manufacturer and consumer decisions regarding end-of-life choices (recycling, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and design alternatives such as life extension, service-oriented business models, etc.). After a first case study on PV, additional case studies will be added such as batteries, automotive electronics, and wind turbines. The central approach will be techno-economic analysis (TEA, or cost modeling) of each end-of-life pathway examined in an integrated decision-support framework to compare alternatives or combinations of end-of-life fates.  The primary outcome metric is net cost normalized per unit mass or product, considering the value generated from each pathway and the cost of the process. As jumping off points, the NREL team has already developed multiple PV recycling TEA models based on a decade of experience developing well-recognized bottom-up cost models of clean energy technology manufacturing processes as well as trade flow and international competitiveness assessments (through, e.g., NREL’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center, https://www.manufacturingcleanenergy.org). Additional metrics to be considered at least qualitatively include material recovery fraction and criticality of recovered materials; other metrics could be added subsequently such as energy requirements and pollution burdens. Primary data will be input into cost modeling to the extent available.

Preferred qualifications include:

PhD in a strongly quantitative, modeling-oriented field such as applied economics, engineering or interdisciplinary fields such as industrial ecology and material flow analysis. Especially innovative and quantitative public policy candidates could qualify.

A strong applicant will have enough scientific/engineering knowledge of the design and operation of clean energy technologies to ground the primarily analytical work of this position. Experience building one or more of TEA/engineering-economic, consumer choice, agent-based or system-dynamics models is a prerequisite. The post-doc should have demonstrated experience functioning independently, and ideally will be able to “manage up” to ensure they have the resources needed to complete the assignments on time. Interdisciplinary curiosity, resourcefulness, internal motivation will enable the post-doc to function well in the exciting and busy work environment of the nation’s only national lab focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Ability to publish in high-profile journals is desired, as well as to give excellent oral presentations on progress and results.  Creative problem solving and robust analytical skills will also be essential.

Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.