The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University, in conjunction with the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications from highly qualified candidates who are interested in working on the economics and policy of decarbonizing surface transportation as a postdoctoral fellow. The ideal candidate will have research experience in the economics of the auto market, especially electric vehicles.

The position will be under the supervision of Professor James Stock and Dr. Elaine Buckberg, and it will be housed in the multidisciplinary Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University. The position is part of a program at the Institute on Expediting the EV Transition. The position includes a competitive salary and Harvard University benefits. Hiring will be for one year with potential extension for a second year.

Responsibilities. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work closely with the project director and collaborators to conduct rigorous, high-quality public policy and economics research on EVs and EV charging. Fellows will participate in research for the project and will also have time for independent, complementary research. Fellows will be involved in all stages of the research. Responsibilities will include―but are not limited to―conceptualizing and conducting statistical/econometric analyses, developing conceptual models, programming following best practices for reproducible research, summarizing and presenting findings, and co-authoring manuscripts.

Compensation. The salary for this position is $85,000. The candidate will also receive a $3,000 research allowance, and, if needed, a $2,500 relocation allowance. This position will be eligible for Harvard University’s subsidized, comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability is a new, University-wide Institute at Harvard. The activities of the Institute include research and public engagement on pressing climate change issues, with a focus on applied work that leverages Harvard’s strengths to drive real-world progress on pressing climate challenges. Those challenges include the transition of the energy sector to a net-zero future. The candidate will be in close physical proximity to others working actively on the energy transition and to other postdoctoral fellows housed at and near the Salata Institute.

The ideal candidate should have a PhD in economics, public policy or a related field by July 1, 2026 and will have: (i) a strong background in environmental economics and economics of transportation ; (ii) strong skills, including programing skills, in econometrics and/or statistics, (iii) enthusiasm for policy-relevant work on the energy transition, (iv) an excellent academic record, (v) prior experience with robust independent research, and (vi) the ability to work both independently and in teams. We especially encourage applications from backgrounds under-represented in economics. The position is fully funded with no teaching requirements. The salary will be competitive with other top post-doctoral positions in economics.

How to apply. Candidates must submit a dossier that includes a curriculum vitae, three references, a research statement, and an original research paper. Please submit the dossier via ARIeS. Applicants should contact Dr. Elaine Buckberg with any questions.

NOTE: The ARIeS application system will only send reference letter requests via email after the application has been officially submitted. Please be in touch with your recommenders in advance so that they can quickly upload their letters after they receive the link. It only takes a few minutes for them to do so. Recommenders will have extra time after the deadline (February 6, 2026) to submit letters.

Application Deadline: January 31, 2026. Candidates with other professional deadlines that require expedited review should include this information in their dossiers.

Dr. Elaine Buckberg
Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability Mailbox 86
79 J F Kennedy St Cambridge, MA
02138

$85,000