General Purpose
Data-Driven Yale is seeking summer student research assistants to contribute a range of projects aimed to bring quantitative rigor and analysis to environmental policymaking. Research projects include measuring urban environmental performance; assessing sub-national and non-state climate action; and measuring co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our work has been published in high-profile academic journals, including Nature and Nature Climate Change, and has been featured in popular media, including The Economist, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Scientific American, among others.
Student research assistants (RAs) contribute to all levels of our work, from research and writing to data analysis, visualization, and design. You will work collaboratively with full-time research staff, the faculty director, other students, and external partners all around the world. Student RAs receive training in data-driven approaches to environmental policy, which involve statistical data analysis, quantitative research, and writing for policy audiences.
Positions are available, starting in May, for the summer. During the summer, students are expected to work up to 40 hours a week. Preference will be given to students who can continue to work throughout the following academic year.
Background of Data-Driven Yale
Data-Driven Yale uses cutting edge data analytics to develop solutions to the world’s environmental problems. Launched in 2015, the research group is an interdisciplinary collaboration of policy experts, data scientists, visual designers, and interactive programmers at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Yale-NUS College, Singapore.
Requirements: Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and analytical skills are required, as are excellent writing skills. Must be a self-starter and independent worker.
Proven research skills strongly preferred, with a particular emphasis on scientific research and an ability to convey scientific concepts to the general public. Proficiency in another language (in particular, Spanish, French, or Mandarin) highly desirable. Pay will be at established Yale rates.
Available positions
We have three projects that we’re seeking Research Assistants to support:
Programmers/Data Analysts for Urban Environmental Performance Index:
Building on our experience ranking global countries through the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), Data-Driven Yale is working to establish a similar index focused on cities. The Urban Environmental Performance Index (UEPI) will provide a much needed, data-driven approach to urban environmental management and planning. The index will rely on “third wave” data including satellite data, OpenStreetMap, and other open data sources. A pilot of the index is currently under development in twelve world cities, and we will scale up the analysis over the summer months. We are seeking researchers with strong interest in urban science and coding skills to assist in producing maps, spatial analysis, and geospatial data management.
Experience with statistical programming language is required; experience working in R is strongly preferred. We are looking for programmers proficient in at least two of the following languages/software: R, Python, JavaScript/HTML, GIS (especially command line tools like GDAL/OGR/GRASS), bash, or others.
To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and work samples to ryan.thomas@yale.edu.
Researchers/Writers for Global Climate Action Analysis research:
Data-Driven Yale assess the scope and impact of climate mitigation, adaptation and financing commitments from cities, regions, businesses, investors, and civil society organizations, and explores how their action can help meet national and global climate goals. In past projects, we have partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the French Energy and Environment Management Agency (ADEME), the Groundswell of Climate Action, and the UNFCCC on this work, and our analysis has been featured in Nature and Nature Climate Change. We are seeking a research assistant to support research and writing around analyses of climate action. A strong interest in climate policy, and in communicating technical information to policymakers and the general public, would be particularly helpful.
To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to amy.weinfurter@yale.edu.
Researcher to support UNEP project – 1 Gigaton Coalition:
The 1 Gigaton Coalition is an international consortium that seeks to assess greenhouse gas mitigation contributions of the energy sector in developing countries. Data-Driven Yale, in partnership with the NewClimate Institute, has co-authored both the first and second reports of the 1 Gigaton Coalition, released at COP-21 in Paris and COP-22 in Marrakech. We are seeking a research assistant to help collect and analyze data on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in developing countries, write good practice case studies, and support the overall research and writing for the third report. We are, in particular, looking for someone who is a Microsoft Excel whiz.
To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to amy.weinfurter@yale.edu.
Graphic Designer
Environmental academics and practitioners struggle daily to communicate important ideas to a public with increasing demands on their attention. Too frequently, the important findings of the academic world go unnoticed because the text-heavy format in which academics communicate is incompatible with the increasingly visual world from which policymakers and the general public draw their ideas. We’re seeking a graphic designer to work across different projects to help solve this pressing problem, by developing infographics and data visualization tools to improve communication around environmental issues.
Candidates with proven research and design skills, with a particular emphasis on scientific research and an ability to convey scientific concepts to the general public, are encouraged to apply. Graphic design experience and knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite are required.
To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and work samples to amy.weinfurter@yale.edu.
Download the job descriptions: Research Assistant Job Descriptions
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