Associate Research Scholar

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) is seeking an Associate Research Scholar to advance its applied research, policy, and advisory work on integrated energy systems planning and finance. This role sits at the frontier of a rapidly evolving and increasingly integrated energy sector, where electrification, digitalization, e-mobility, urbanization, and emerging-market growth are transforming the operational logic and investment requirements of energy systems around the world. The position will engage directly with these dynamics, examining how system design, planning, and investment frameworks can optimize the integration of digital and physical infrastructure to support climate and development goals.

This position will support the design and implementation of system-level strategies for low-carbon, affordable, and resilient energy transitions linking generation, grid infrastructure, and emerging load centers such as industrial corridors, data hubs, and clean-fuel value chains. This will include contributions to the development of integrated modelling frameworks, investment and financing roadmaps, and institutional and regulatory strategies that enable countries and regions to achieve net-zero, competitive, and inclusive growth. The position will bridge technical systems analysis with institutional and financial innovation to translate scenario-modelling outputs into investible transition pathways aligned with emerging global norms in climate finance, industrial policy, and digital infrastructure.

This is a highly interdisciplinary position spanning energy systems analysis, sustainable finance, and public policy, and requires intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a pragmatic commitment to translating research into actionable solutions. This role will initially contribute to CCSI's work under the ASEAN Regional Integrated Energy System (ARIES) project, supporting the design of regional pathways, financing frameworks, and institutional mechanisms for coordinated energy system transformation across Southeast Asia.

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Research Scholar will contribute to CCSI's research and advisory initiatives through a combination of the following responsibilities, depending on evolving program needs and the individual's expertise:

* Conduct interdisciplinary research on the planning, optimization, and financing of integrated energy systems, including cross-border grids, clean fuels, storage, and emerging industrial and digital loads.

* Contribute to the design, development, and interpretation of energy system and macroeconomic models to identify least-cost and net-zero-consistent transition pathways, and to link those results / modelling outputs to investment and financing requirements.

* Support the development of advanced multi-vector modelling frameworks that couple energy, water, and digital infrastructure, drawing on the latest approaches in integrated systems planning, electrotech deployment, and demand flexibility.

* Analyze policy, regulatory, and market design options that enhance the affordability, security, and sustainability of energy systems across borders and sectors.

* Support the development of financing and investment frameworks, including analysis of risk allocation, blended finance instruments, guarantees, sovereign and sub-sovereign borrowing, export credit agency (ECA) participation, and credit rating methodologies relevant to large-scale clean energy and infrastructure investment.

* Conduct or contribute to research on cost-of-capital determinants, capital market access for emerging economies, and the design of mechanisms that can lower financing costs for public and private actors.

* Explore and assess the role of regional and national financial institutions, development banks, and catalytic funds in mobilizing investment for integrated energy systems.

* Engage with governments, regional institutions, utilities, development banks, investors, ECAs, and rating agencies to co-develop practical strategies for affordable and scalable financing of energy transitions.

* Organize and facilitate consultations, workshops, and training programs to strengthen institutional and financial capacity for integrated system planning and implementation.

* Collaborate on multi-stakeholder projects that bridge technical modeling, institutional reform, and financial innovation, including national and regional roadmaps for energy system transformation.

* Draft and co-author research papers, policy briefs, roadmaps, and reports, synthesizing technical, financial, and institutional insights into clear and actionable recommendations.

* Contribute to strategic outreach, communication, and knowledge-sharing efforts, ensuring that CCSI's research informs policy dialogues on sustainable infrastructure, energy integration, and reform of global financial architecture.

The most important quality for this position is the ability and desire to think ambitiously, creatively, and pragmatically, and to bridge disciplines in pursuit of actionable, system-level solutions. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, intellectually curious, and collaborative, able to connect technical, financial, and policy insights into coherent strategies that shape real-world outcomes.

In addition, the following minimum qualifications are required:

* PhD, SJD, JD, LLM, or Master's degree with significant research experience in one or more of the following fields: energy systems, economics, sustainable finance, engineering, law, or public policy.

* Demonstrated ability to conduct and synthesize interdisciplinary research across technical, economic, and institutional dimensions.

* Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into actionable recommendations.

* Familiarity with energy systems modeling, infrastructure planning, industrial decarbonization, or climate finance mechanisms (e.g., blended finance, guarantees, or sovereign credit structures).

* Demonstrated understanding of macroeconomic and systems-level implications of the current power and digital infrastructure nexus

* Experience working with or advising governments, utilities, multilateral institutions, or investors on energy, infrastructure, or finance issues.

* Willingness to learn, adapt, and engage across diverse disciplines and stakeholder groups.

* Regional experience in emerging markets preferred.

Ultimately, the role contributes to a new generation of energy-system scholarship and practice that links digital transformation, electrification, and climate finance into coherent investment strategies. The Associate Research Scholar will engage with partners across government, industry, and finance to align technical insights with the institutional and capital architectures required for real-economy transitions that are affordable and effective.

The search will remain open for at least 30 days after the advertisement appears and will continue until the position is filled.

Appointments are made on a fiscal year basis and are eligible for renewal each July 1, contingent upon performance and funding.

Columbia University benefits accompany this Officer of Reserch appointment.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.