Applications are invited for the role of Research Fellow in the Energy Policy & Modelling Group to join the MaREI Centre in University College Cork (UCC), based at the Environmental Research Institute, Lee Rd, Cork.

 

MaREI’s Energy Policy and Modelling Group (EPMG) in UCC has been engaged in energy policy and energy systems modelling research for 20 years. The appointed Research Fellow will work on the CAPACITY project to support the exploration, development, decision-making and governance of long-term pathways consistent with the long-term Paris Climate Agreement goals.

 

Working location: The successful applicant will be based in UCC’s Ellen Hutchins Building at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) (https://www.ucc.ie/en/eri/). It is an internationally recognised institute for environmental research dedicated to the understanding and protection of our natural environment and to developing innovative technologies, tools and services to facilitate a transformation to a zero-carbon and resource-efficient society. Overlooking a protected natural reserve and the River Lee, the ERI is a welcoming, diverse, and modern workplace.

 

The MaREI Centre of Energy, Climate and Marine (https://www.marei.ie/) is the Research Ireland centre of excellence in Energy, Climate and Marine research in Ireland.  The MaREI Centre includes 13 Universities, Third Level Institutes and Research Organisations, it has 103 industrial partners and has research funding of approximately €60m. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the energy, climate and marine domains.  Researchers in the MaREI Centre have over 30 years of experience in conducting fundamental and applied research supported by competitively won national and international funding, and commercial contracts with government agencies and industry.  MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as Marine Renewable Energy Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Circular Economy, Energy Policy & Modelling, and Renewable Energy Management.

 

CAPACITY project: The Climate Action Pathways & Absorptive Capacity (CAPACITY) project is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). The objectives of the project are to i) develop and maintain a suite of energy system models to contribute to the evidence base for Irish climate and energy policy and ii) to support absorptive capacity building across relevant government departments, agencies and semi-state bodies. The CAPACITY project combines technical modelling expertise with engagement and capacity building activities in a unique way. It provides an opportunity for motivated and ambitious Researchers to see their research make a difference in the policy domain. UCC and the CAPACITY project are members of the Climate Action Modelling Group (CAMG) within the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. CAMG was established in 2015 to support the development of short-term and long-term evidence-based climate and energy policy in Ireland. The CAMG is a high-level technical group comprised of experts within a cross-section of relevant Government Departments and State Agencies as well as representation within academic institutions, including UCC.

 

Research Group: MaREI’s Energy Policy and Modelling Group (EPMG) in UCC has been engaged in energy policy and energy modelling research over 20 years. The results of this research have been published in journal papers, conference proceedings, and reports which have directly informed the development of national and European energy and climate mitigation policy. EPMG are very engaged in disseminating research findings and have won research awards for impact, engagement, and communications of research findings. The focus of research in the Energy Policy and Modelling Group is on integrated energy systems modelling comprising i) sectoral energy demand and efficiency, ii) integrated electricity, gas and water modelling and iii) full energy systems modelling. EPMG is led by Prof. Brian Ó Gallachóir (Chair of Energy Engineering; Chair of the Executive Committee of the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on energy systems modelling (IEA-ETSAP)), Professor Hannah Daly (Professor of Sustainable Energy), Dr Paul Deane (Senior Research Fellow in Energy Futures) and Dr Fionn Rogan (Senior Research Fellow in Energy Systems Modelling).

 

Project Title: CAPACITY

 

Post Duration:  30 Months Whole-Time Post

 

Salary: €63,958 - €69,692 per annum, IUA Research Fellow Salary Scale

 

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/.

 

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Hannah Daly, Professor of Sustainable Energy, SEFS, MaREI, Email: h.daly@ucc.ie

 

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to recruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job-title and project name.

 

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 7th of February 2025