Position Overview
Position Title: Postdoctoral Researcher - Low Carbon Transition of Electricity Systems
Salary Range: A reasonable estimate for this position at 100% time is $69,073 to $85,000.
Percent Time: 100
Anticipated Start: The start date is negotiable. Ideally, the position starts May 1, 2026, or later.
Position Duration: This is a 2-year initial appointment.
Application Window
Open Date: February 23, 2026
Next Review Date: Monday, March 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position Description
The Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) - http://semlab.ucsb.edu and Clean Energy Transformation Lab (CETLab) - http://cetlab.es.ucsb.edu at the University of California, Santa Barbara, invite applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar position to lead research in low-carbon transitions in electricity systems in India and other regions.
Efforts will include:
• Developing operations and planning models of electricity systems • Power flow and transmission analysis • Load forecasting • Climate impacts analysis
The postdoctoral scholar will be expected to lead or contribute to peer-reviewed publications and open-source modeling software, present research findings to a diverse group of stakeholders, conduct training of stakeholders, and develop policy briefs and reports for funders and agencies.
The postdoctoral scholar will work closely with the PI, Ranjit Deshmukh, as well as with emLab and CETLab graduate students, postdocs, and lab collaborators.
The Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) is a team of scientists based at UC Santa Barbara that advances economic research to deliver practical solutions for people and the planet. In collaboration with implementing partners, we design, test, and implement scalable solutions that work across boundaries-connecting science with policy, data with decisions, and ambition with action-to create pathways toward a future where environmental and human well-being mutually reinforce one another.
We endeavor to foster an inclusive, collaborative work environment to bring interdisciplinary expertise to solve critical environmental problems.
The CETLab focuses on low-carbon and just transitions in energy systems by applying energy systems modeling, empirical analyses, and social science research methods.
Ongoing CETLab projects are focused on understanding and supporting clean energy transitions in the United States, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa through modeling and development of decision-support tools.
Lab projects include:
• Multi-criteria Analysis for Planning Renewable Energy (MapRE) initiative • Spatial analysis platform for planning renewable energy deployment • GridPath, an electricity system planning and operations analysis platform
This appointment includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision insurance and a UC retirement plan. Salary is commensurate with the applicants qualifications and experience.
Department: https://msi.ucsb.edu
Qualifications
Basic qualifications required at the time of application:
• Applicants must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. or equivalent except the dissertation in engineering, interdisciplinary energy studies, or a related field at the time of application.
Additional qualifications required at the time of start:
• PhD in engineering, interdisciplinary energy studies, or a closely related field at the time of appointment.
Preferred qualifications:
• Domain knowledge in energy studies, power systems, renewable energy, grid integration, and optimization models. • Extensive experience with managing, processing, and analyzing large datasets and strong programming skills, especially in Python. • Experience working with transmission power flow and machine learning models. • Strong scientific writing and presentation skills, and a track record of publishing in top academic journals is preferred. • Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with academic, NGO, and government partners, and to work effectively as part of a highly collaborative research team.
Application Requirements
Document requirements:
• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. • Cover Letter • Writing Sample - Submit paper or other writing sample • Reference requirements: • 3 required contact information only
The search committee will contact references of the top candidates after the interviews. After references are checked, a top candidate will be chosen.
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03065
Help contact: lswanson@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
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.
Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicants previous place of employment, including but not limited to violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students, and third parties
APM - 035 Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
Job Location: Santa Barbara, CA, UCSB
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Here on the edge of the Pacific, in a setting removed from urban pressures and distractions but vibrant with cultural and academic activity, many of the country’s most promising students join a community of scholars whose accomplishments are internationally recognized and whose skills as teachers are evident each day in classrooms and laboratories.
In the humanities and the arts as well as in engineering and the sciences, UC Santa Barbara introduces students to novel ways of thinking, learning, and conducting research.