Research Scientist and Project Director - College of Engineering - Environmental and Public Policy

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!

The Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) is a unique department in the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University which addresses important problems in technology and policy. We educate technically skilled students to be leaders in policy-focused research; we work on policy problems in which the technology matters.

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) seeks a Research Scientist to serve as Project Director for Industrial Futures within the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. The position will lead research and programmatic activities at the intersection of industrial transformation, energy and climate, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional economic development. The Research Scientist will lead the Industrial Futures focus area within the Scott Institute, working with faculty, researchers, students, and external partners across Carnegie Mellon and a network of domestic and international collaborators. The position

combines applied and scholarly research with project leadership, external engagement, policy communication, and mentorship. The Research Scientist will report to the Associate Director of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.

A central objective of the Industrial Futures initiative is to understand how technological change and the energy transition reshaping industry, firms, workers, and regions are — and how policy, innovation, and entrepreneurship can contribute to competitive, resilient, and sustainable industrial transitions. The portfolio connects research and engagement in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the United States with international

research and partnerships addressing similar challenges around the world.

The Research Scientist will have substantial responsibility for two major components of this portfolio: CMU’s leadership of the INDABA Partnership, an international research collaboration focused on industrial transformation and decarbonization, and its links to CMU’s engagement in the Regional Technology and Infrastructure Consortium (RETI), which focuses on industrial innovation, hardtech entrepreneurship, and supporting policies. As Project Director, the Research Scientist will help shape the intellectual agenda of these initiatives while managing research programs, coordinating partners, developing new projects, and translating research findings for policy and practitioner audiences.

Core Responsibilities:

Research Leadership:

• Develop, lead, and contribute to applied research on industrial transformation, energy and industrial policy, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regional economic change.
• Help define and advance the research agenda for the Industrial Futures focus area and lead or co-lead projects from research design through analysis, publication, and dissemination.
• Conduct rigorous quantitative and qualitative research using methods appropriate to the research question, including quantitative empirical analysis, operations research, econometrics, labor-market and regional economic analysis, qualitative and interview-based research, and techno-economic or energy-systems analysis.
• Maintain and develop datasets, analytical tools, and methodological frameworks that support research across multiple projects.
• Develop and contribute to peer-reviewed publications, policy reports, working papers, and other scholarly outputs.
• Collaborate with researchers across Carnegie Mellon and partner institutions, connecting research on industrial transformation in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the United States with related international research and identifying opportunities for new interdisciplinary work.

Program and Project Leadership:

• Serve as Project Director for the Industrial Futures portfolio, providing intellectual and programmatic leadership across its research and engagement activities.
• Coordinate complex, multi-institution research projects, including developing and reviewing deliverables, maintaining timelines, leading project meetings, monitoring progress, and addressing barriers to project success.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for research partners, subcontractors, funding organizations, and other collaborators.
• Support CMU’s leadership of the INDABA Partnership, including coordinating research across partner institutions, managing a collaborative seed-grant program, and leading knowledge-sharing activities such as newsletters, workshops, and study tours.
• Coordinate project reporting and communications with research sponsors and contribute to new grant proposals, including research design, technical narratives, work plans, and partnership development.
• Connect researchers across the Scott Institute and broader university who are working on related topics or methodologies and facilitate opportunities for collaboration.

External Engagement and Policy Impact:

• Build and maintain relationships with industry, government, nonprofit and community organizations, research institutions, funding partners, and other stakeholders.
• Engage with firms, policymakers, entrepreneurs, workforce organizations, and regional stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with industrial and technological transformation.
• Represent Carnegie Mellon and the Scott Institute in external meetings, workshops, conferences, study tours, working groups, and other convenings.
• Translate research into accessible and decision-relevant formats, including policy briefs, reports, presentations, data visualizations, and other communications for policymakers and practitioners.
• Work with Scott Institute communications and policy staff to disseminate research findings and contribute to policy-informing activities such as briefings, testimony, public comments, and workshops.

Advising and Mentorship:

• Advise or co-advise student and researcher projects associated with the Industrial Futures portfolio.
• Mentor students and junior researchers on research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis and visualization, and research writing.
• Provide feedback on research products, manuscripts, presentations, and policy communications.
• Contribute to a collaborative, intellectually engaged, productive, and supportive research culture within the Scott Institute and collaborating research groups.

Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in engineering, public policy, economics, management, or a related field.
• Approximately 3–5 years of relevant research or professional experience. Significant and directly relevant research, project leadership, or stakeholder- engagement experience obtained during doctoral training may count toward this requirement.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: energy, industrial transformation, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, or regional economic development.
• Demonstrated ability to design and conduct rigorous applied research using multiple quantitative and/or qualitative approaches. Relevant methods may include quantitative empirical research, operations research, econometrics, labor-market or regional economic analysis, qualitative and interview-based methods, and techno-economic or energy-systems analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets using R, Python, Stata, or comparable analytical software.
• Experience developing scholarly research products, including peer-reviewed publications, working papers, or major research reports.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills and the ability to coordinate activities and collaborators across complex projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical research to academic and nonacademic audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and institutions.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research or professional experience related to industrial decarbonization, industrial or energy policy, hardtech innovation and entrepreneurship, or regional industrial transformation.
• Experience working at the intersection of academic research and policy or practice and engaging directly with industry, government, community organizations, or other external stakeholders.
• Experience managing multi-institutional or interdisciplinary research collaborations.
• Experience developing research proposals or contributing to externally funded research programs.
• Experience translating academic research into policy-relevant communications for nonacademic audiences.
• Experience mentoring students or junior researchers.
•  Experience working in international research collaborations or comparative research settings.

Requirements:

• Successful background check

Position Characteristics:

This position is designed for a researcher who enjoys moving between rigorous research and real-world engagement. The successful candidate will be comfortable leading research while also building partnerships, managing collaborative projects, mentoring students, communicating findings to policymakers and practitioners, and developing new research opportunities.

The role requires intellectual curiosity, independence, initiative, strong organizational skills, and a collaborative approach. Because the Industrial Futures portfolio connects local, national, and international research and engagement, the position may involve periodic domestic and international travel.

The Research Scientist will be based at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will report to the Associate Director of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.

Work arrangement: In-person expected

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

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