The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) seeks a scientist to conduct early-stage research on innovative, impact-focused approaches to decarbonization and reducing climate warming.

As an early-stage incubator of scientific ideas and questions, the Climate Innovation group investigates promising climate solutions and technologies across sectors, from energy and industry to agriculture and natural systems. The goal is to identify technologies and system changes that can drive disproportionate climate impact, anticipate future challenges to success, and conduct key scientific investigations to create positive change. The scientist will identify high leverage scientific questions and data needs in emerging areas of global relevance, generate plans to investigate them, and follow through to drive meaningful impact. The scope of past and current topics is broad, including electrical transmission, carbon dioxide removal, industrial carbon capture safety, new sensor design, and agricultural amendments. Methods usually involve identifying and building teams of experts to collaboratively address the questions. The ultimate metric of success is science that results in a positive impact on slowing climate change and its impacts.

Program Overview

Science and Innovation (S&I) is the engine of science at EDF. S&I provides programmatic support for all scientists at EDF and fosters relationships with scientists outside the organization. We identify key emerging scientific questions and data needs of value to the climate and act as a global leader for solutions-oriented science. The team works on projects across all EDF programs, translating basic and applied research in the natural and social sciences into actionable ideas for colleagues who are designing policies, programs, and projects.

Overall Function

The Scientist will conduct research and identify opportunities for real-world impacts on climate warming, emissions, and policy. We are seeing increasing numbers of innovations and solutions put forth, some well founded in science and some less so. Identifying key scientific needs to evaluate the climate impacts (and other benefits) of potential solutions and accelerating good solutions is critical for a successful transition to a sustainable world. This scientist must think at a systems level – not only asking questions in isolation, but within the broader context of systems emissions, economics, behavior, and at a scale of relevance to the global climate. The scientist needs to think creatively and broadly, across disciplines. This is a highly collaborative endeavor, and to maximize impact the scientist will be expected to actively collaborate with other scientists as well as the policy, economic, and legal teams both within EDF and externally.

The Scientist needs to be a creative thinker, interested in a wide range of innovations, and willing to learn, explore, and lead in strong collaboration with internal and external teams. This work will result in original publishable research, including with external academic collaborators, “in-house” analyses for use by other EDF staff, and other communications aimed at policy makers, journalists, and the public at large. The Scientist will report to a Senior Climate Scientist.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify emerging high leverage science opportunities and conduct research on multiple innovative solutions to climate change.

• Organize studies and identify key pathways to climate impact

• Collaborate with external scientists from academia, NGOs, governments, and other areas

• Effectively work with teams across the organization, and external partners, to maximize practical impact of research findings

• Participate in advancing EDF’s organizational effectiveness and culture goals, in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges aligned with EDF values.

• Lead and participate in the preparation of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and, where appropriate, reports/fact sheets/blog posts for general audiences on the topic of focus.

• Help coordinate workshops or working groups of internal and external experts to answer specific questions as appropriate for the questions.

• Represent EDF in external meetings with a high degree of professionalism.

• Additional responsibilities assigned as needed.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Climate Science, Data Science, Energy Systems, Environmental Science, Materials Science, or relevant field with 2 years’ postdoctoral experience, a Master’s degree with 5+ years’ relevant experience, or a Bachelor's with 7+ years’ relevant experience in scientific roles.

• A strong track record of collaborative research, including peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences.

• Strong quantitative skills (statistical analysis and modeling) with proficiency in R, Python, or similar data analysis software.

• Demonstrated excellence in rigorous scientific analyses.

• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency, inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

• Spatial data analysis experience and skills using R or Python scripting (e.g. arcpy or open-source equivalent), ArcPro/QGIS, Google Earth Engine, or similar highly preferred.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to conduct effective presentations, communicate complex technical aspects to general audiences, and translate scientific and technical concepts for private sector audiences into practicable solutions. Ability to work in an inter-disciplinary setting and learning new skills (on-the-job training will be provided to familiarize the successful candidate with media, policy skills, and issues).

• Ability to work independently, using independent judgment to plan, prioritize, and organize a diverse workload in a fast-paced environment.

• An interest and commitment to solving environmental problems through collaborative projects based on rigorous science and solutions-focused advocacy.

• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and up to 10%.

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.