Location: Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

About the Role:Join the Industrial Sustainability Analysis Laboratory at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UCSB as an Assistant Project Scientist. This role will place you at the intersection of energy systems, emissions, and technology analysis to develop open-source models and datasets that assess the sustainability of data centers across various scales and scenarios. Your research will focus on quantifying the direct and indirect sustainability impacts, exploring operational, technological, and policy interventions to mitigate the environmental footprint of data centers.

As part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team led by Professor Eric Masanet, you will contribute to the development of innovative models, disseminate impactful research, and collaborate with policymakers and the global research community to shape a more sustainable data center industry.

What You’ll Do:

• Sustainability Modeling & Analysis: Lead the development of simulation models to quantify energy use, water consumption, and emissions of data centers, considering both direct and indirect impacts of IT equipment and building infrastructure.
• Innovation in Technology Interventions: Explore and analyze operational and policy interventions to reduce the environmental footprint of data centers across various conditions, including different climates and cooling technologies.
• Data Generation & Dissemination: Support the creation and online sharing of novel datasets, modeling code, and maps to empower researchers and policymakers with tools to evaluate sustainability impacts.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and policymakers to advance sustainability solutions and improve the understanding of the energy-water nexus in data centers.

What We’re Looking For:

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Energy Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong Expertise in energy systems analysis and modeling, with a preference for experience using bottom-up and technology-rich perspectives.
• Familiarity with data center IT equipment, cooling systems, and industry trends, including emerging technologies like AI-accelerated servers.
• Experience with spatial data analysis tools (e.g., ArcGIS) and model programming languages like Python or R.
• Knowledge of U.S. and international energy data, including statistics on electricity grid compositions, emissions, and climate data.
• Proven track record of leading research projects, publishing journal articles, and presenting at conferences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with life-cycle assessments (LCA) and understanding environmental justice datasets.
• Background in macro-energy systems modeling, thermodynamic modeling, or working with energy, emissions, and market statistics specific to the data center industry.

What We Offer:

• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside experts in the field, with the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research and influence sustainability in the tech industry.
• Diversity & Inclusion: UCSB is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment, and we actively encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Application Requirements:

• CV: Your most recent Curriculum Vitae.
• Cover Letter: A one-page cover letter detailing your research experience, career goals, and motivation.
• Sample Publications: Up to three publications where you were the primary author/researcher.
• References: 3-5 references (letters will be requested for the top candidates).

Apply Here: UCSB Application Link

For questions, please reach out to Kelly Keogh at kellykeogh@ucsb.edu.