Research Support Officer

at  University College Cork

POSITION SUMMARY

Applications are invited for the Research Support Officer in the Energy Policy & Modelling Group to join the MaREI Centre in University College Cork (UCC), based at the Environmental Research Institute, Lee Rd, Cork.
MaREI’s Energy Policy and Modelling Group (EPMG) in UCC has been engaged in energy policy and energy systems modelling research for 20 years. This research can support the exploration, development, decision-making and governance of long-term pathways consistent with the long-term Paris Climate Agreement goals. The EPMG have developed a suite of modelling tools together with an internationally recognised expertise in their development and usage. Multiple ongoing projects including CAPACITY and SELFS projects will further develop and update these tools to facilitate insights and robust decision making about the appropriate long-term decarbonisation pathway and to support climate planning in Ireland. The group is also working closely with policymakers in Ireland to enhance the absorptive capacity of the governance system to utilise the insights arising out of these energy modelling tools.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN APPOINTMENT TO POSTS ADVERTISED WILL BE DEPENDENT ON UNIVERSITY APPROVAL, TOGETHER WITH THE TERMS OF THE EMPLOYMENT CONTROL FRAMEWORK FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR.

UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated. As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff. We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies/ and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation/ and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of Professor Hannah Daly, the successful candidate will be responsible for (1) enhancing EPMG’s disseminating insights arising out of modelling analysis to inform policymakers; (2) helping to manage data for modelling tools, and (3) support model management.

More specifically, the successful candidate will contribute to the following tasks:

• Create user-friendly and interactive visualisation interfaces using Excel and web-based platforms.
• Enhance the EPMG’s existing repository of tools for ongoing projects, their data management, and analysis.
• Provide support for updating EPMG’s modelling tools (including TIMES, PLEXOS, and LEAP).

• Support the dissemination activities involving presentations, reports, policy briefs, and scientific papers.

  This position will primarily involve providing support to the Energy Policy and Modelling Group in managing modelling tools, databases and building interactive visualisation interfaces (e.g, developing the TIM results explorer) and work with the GitHub account) to enhance the EPMG’s collaboration with policymakers and stakeholders.
  Please see the full list of Key Duties and Responsibilities in the Candidate Brief for this role.
  Working location: The successful applicant will be based in UCC’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), Ellen Hutchins Building (https://www.ucc.ie/en/eri/), which is an internationally- recognised institute for environmental research dedicated to the understanding and protection of our natural environment and to developing innovative technologies, tools and services to facilitate a transformation to a zero-carbon and resource-efficient society. Overlooking a protected natural reserve and the River Lee, the ERI is a welcoming, diverse and modern workplace.
  The MaREI Centre of Energy, Climate and Marine (www.marei.ie) is the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) centre of excellence in Energy, Climate and Marine research in Ireland. The MaREI Centre includes 13 Universities, Third Level Institutes and Research Organisations, has 103 industrial partners and has research funding of approximately €60m. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the energy, climate and marine domains. Researchers in the MaREI Centre have over 30 years of experience in conducting fundamental and applied research supported by competitively won national and international funding, and commercial contracts with government agencies and industry. MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as Marine Renewable Energy Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Circular Economy, Energy Policy & Modelling, and Renewable Energy Management.