Energy/Environmental Policy Researcher

The Energy/Environmental Policy Researcher (EEPR 2) will be part of the Energy Markets and Policy (EMP) department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to contribute to research on distributed and utility-scale renewable energy and storage deployment and electric transmission infrastructure. EMP seeks to inform domestic and global decision-making among regulators, policymakers, grid operators, utilities, the renewable energy and storage industries, and communities impacted by development.

In this exciting role, you will develop and apply methods of conducting energy, economic, market, and/or technical research focused on renewable energy and transmission that informs the development of energy policies and market regulations (e.g., in support of a U.S. Department of Energy policy program). Working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, the EEPR2 will define the needs of projects or advanced analyses and determine appropriate methods to satisfy technical objectives. You will lead research tasks, potentially including gathering and processing data, performing analyses, developing analytical and modeling tools, and writing and presenting results, within your area of specialization.

What You Will Do:

• Use full understanding of energy markets, wind and solar generators, and reported electric system operator data to conduct research and analysis of energy systems. Projects may include, but are not limited to:




• The annual Utility-Scale Solar report
• The annual Land-based Wind Market report
• The annual U.S. State Renewable Portfolio and Clean Electricity Standards report
• Transmission value and assessment of unexpected events impact on transmission value
• Impacts on project performance due to project aging for utility-scale solar, wind, or distributed solar




• Develop or direct the development of analytical and computational methods and/or tools for analyzing energy systems prices and the value of energy system investments. Analyses may include, but are not limited to:




• Evaluating meteorological model representation of wind resources in context of reported market data
• Quantifying interactions between energy prices or emissions with electricity infrastructure, through machine learning and/or inverse modeling
• Developing approaches to assess performance drivers of wind and solar generators, potentially for both distributed and utility-scale applications
• Developing methods to estimate and assess curtailment of wind and solar plants




• Exercise judgment within generally defined procedures and practices to define the needs of projects or tasks and determine appropriate methods to satisfy technical objectives
• Organize and work with large amounts of data using various types of software (such as simulation tools, spreadsheets, and database programs) to perform analyses.
• Resolve a wide range of complex problems in creative and practical ways.
• Provide technical support and guidance to staff including reviewing and providing feedback on their work to improve technical quality.
• Lead and/or support the drafting of written technical support documentation, policy documents, and journal articles detailing the analysis methods and results.
• Prepare and present technical analysis to a public audience, policy stakeholders, and peers.
• Interact with collaborators and/or policy stakeholders to gather necessary data for conducting research and analysis
• Interact with funders and collaborators on technical issues
• Significant contributions to technical reports, including through developing complex data sets and data analysis

Additional Responsibilities as needed:

• May supervise the activities of personnel
• Interact with funders on programmatic issues

What is Required:

• 5 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree; or 3 years and a master's degree; or a PhD degree without experience; or equivalent work experience.
• Experience working with System Operator reported data related to location marginal prices, infrastructure outages, and wind and solar generation and curtailment
• Experience developing, running, or working with data from meteorological and air quality models
• Experience deploying or developing machine learning algorithms
• Experience writing technical articles for multiple audiences (academic and policy/regulatory audiences)
• Experience implementing inverse modeling techniques
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with, System Operator reported data including:




• Location marginal prices
• Infrastructure outages
• Wind and solar generation profiles
• Wind and solar curtailment data




• Broad knowledge of energy policy environment related to hybrid solar and storage plants
• Demonstrated experience in developing advanced analytical methods and numerical models related to meteorological models and/or energy markets
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision and collaborate effectively with a team of researchers.
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deliverable deadlines with high-quality results and adapt to rapidly changing work demands
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to present analytical methods and results to a non-specialist audience.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and work with complex spreadsheets and database programs to perform analyses using large amounts of information on complex subjects from diverse sources of data and other sources.
• Demonstrated proficiency with development of computational tools in Python, R, Excel/VBA, or other languages.
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office, especially MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (e.g., M.S. or PhD) in engineering, physics, statistics, or related field.
• Experience developing funding and analytical proposals
• Familiarity with U.S. energy policy, especially as it relates to energy markets
• Familiarity with basic principles and tools for data management.

Notes:

• This is a full time, 1 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
• The full salary range for this position is $110,928.00 - $166,392.00 The budgeted salary range that the Lab reasonably expects to pay for this position is $117,100.80 - $129,427.20. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and also aligned with the internal peer group.
• This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
• This position is eligible for a flexible work mode, with onsite or hybrid work being the preferred mode, though full-time telework or remote work modes may be considered. Hybrid work is a combination of teleworking and performing work on-site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

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