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Assistant Project Scientist, Data Center Sustainability Analysis in the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
Position overview
Position title: Assistant Project Scientist, Data Center Sustainability AnalysisApplication Window
Open date: January 22, 2025
Next review date: Wednesday, Feb 5, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Monday, Jun 30, 2025 at 11:59pm (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
Through the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, the Industrial Sustainability Analysis Laboratory is seeking an Assistant Project Scientist with a primary focus on systems energy, emissions, and technology analysis and modeling of data centers at different temporal and spatial scales.
The position will support development of open-source simulation models that quantify the direct energy use, water use, and emissions of different types of data centers and the indirect (i.e., upstream and downstream) sustainability impacts associated with data center information technology (IT) equipment and building infrastructure.
This research will further explore operational, technology, and policy interventions for reducing sustainability and community impacts over different temporal and spatial scales and forward-looking scenarios under different sets of conditions.
These analyses will also support and improve physics-based models for quantifying the energy-water nexus of data centers under different climate, cooling technology, and operating conditions.
The position will also support the generation and online dissemination of novel datasets, modeling code, and maps that can be used by researchers and policymakers to assess different sustainability impacts and improvement options for data centers.
The Assistant Project Scientist will be supervised by Professor Eric Masanet. This position will be recruited through the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UCSB.
The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.
School: https://bren.ucsb.edu/
Qualifications
Ph.D. in electrical engineering, computer science, energy systems engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related engineering or natural sciences field (or equivalent international degree).
-Strong expertise and experience with energy systems analysis and modeling, ideally from bottom-up and technology rich perspectives
-Familiarity with data center IT equipment, cooling systems, and industry trends
-Familiarity with data center computing equipment types and functions, including AI accelerated servers and their applications
-Familiarity and experience with major sources of U.S. national and international statistics on electricity grid compositions and emissions, local climate data, and local water data (e.g., U.S. EIA electric power data; U.S. EPA eGRID data; IEA energy statistics)
-Experience with spatial data analysis and related software platforms (e.g., ArcGIS)
-Experience conducting uncertainty and sensitivity analyses using process systems models via statistical plug-in packages or via coding
-Strong experience in model programming, e.g., via Python or R
-Experience working with APIs for online data acquisition and maintenance
-Familiarity with life-cycle assessment (LCA) datasets, fuel-cycle environmental datasets, and U.S. spatial datasets of environmental and social justice indicators
-Proven record of independently leading research projects, publishing journal articles and presenting at conferences.
-Experience with energy systems analysis and modeling, ideally using bottom-up and technology-rich perspectives, and ideally with applications to data centers, IT systems, and/or computing equipment.
-Experience with and/or strong interest in macro-energy systems modeling (e.g., integrated assessment modeling or energy systems modeling), thermodynamic modeling of heat removal systems, life-cycle assessment (LCA) models and datasets, and working with energy, emissions, industry, and market statistics.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - One page cover letter explaining your past research experience, career goals, background, and the motivation that drives your career.
Sample Publications - Please submit up to three sample publications for which you were the primary author/researcher.
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Letters will be requested for the top candidate only and the letter writers will be contacted after the interviews once the final candidate has been chosen.
Help contact: kellykeogh@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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s 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, dishonesty or unethical conduct, 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
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.