Postdoctoral Research Fellow in CGE Modelling

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) wishes to hire a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in CGE energy and transport modelling economics. This is a three-year, fixed-term position. The successful applicant will hold an adjunct position at Trinity College Dublin.

The Institute 

The ESRI, founded in 1960, is located in Dublin’s South Docklands area. Our mission is to produce high quality research, relevant to Ireland’s economic and social development, with the aim of contributing to knowledge and informing policymaking and public debate. We have over 100 staff including economists, sociologists and other social scientists, in addition to support and technical staff. 

The Research Programme on Climate, Energy and Economy at the ESRI 

The ESRI has maintained an energy research programme since the 1990s, covering energy demand, electricity markets, and energy efficiency. In 2017, the ESRI initiated a new, parallel research programme on Climate, Energy and the Economy to enhance the modelling capability of assessing the relationship between economic trends, policies, energy demand, and associated greenhouse gas emissions. To date, this has involved constructing an energy Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model of the Irish economy, namely the Ireland Environment, Energy and Economy (I3E) model (www.esri.ie/current-research/the-i3e-model). The research programme aims to analyse energy/environment policy and other climate and energy issues in Ireland. More specifically, it will be used to advise on the impacts of various climate policy options across sectors as well as estimate future energy demand for emission projection purposes. The ESRI has strong links to a wide range of key stakeholders, and this research has been extensively used as input to policymaking and is expected to significantly influence energy and climate change policy in Ireland. 

Role Description 

The successful candidate will work primarily on core modelling, developing and maintaining the I3E model. Depending on the candidate’s expertise in satellite models, it is expected that they will develop the required satellite model(s) and their linkage with the I3E model. They will be expected to write reports and journal articles and present the research outputs in various fora including stakeholder meetings, seminars and conferences. 

The research team is highly motivated to publish high-quality articles in top-ranking economics journals, and we seek equally motivated candidates. 

The successful candidate will have opportunities to disseminate their research findings to various stakeholders, both in industry and in government. 

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Candidates will be expected to have:

• A Ph.D. in economics (or close to completion - ideally, the expected submission date should be within 2 months from start of contract);
• Research experience in fully dynamic / intertemporal CGE modelling (model development, calibration, and coding) with GAMS (General Algebraic Modelling System), preferably covering energy/climate topics or experience in satellite models, e.g., agriculture, energy;
• Knowledge in constructing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM);
• Experience in well-known static/recursive dynamic CGE models, e.g., GTAP, IFPRI, MANAGE, would be considered if and only if the candidate altered the algebraic structure of the model. Calibrating a CGE model to a SAM is insufficient.
• Excellent writing skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully within a highly motivated team and on their own initiative;
• Proven ability to deliver high quality output to tight deadlines;
• Previous experience of conducting applied research;
• Flexibility and capacity to contribute to other areas of ESRI research.

Desirable

• Knowledge R and Latex;
• Knowledge of the GTAP (Global Trade Analysis Project) database. 

Location

ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. Applicants should note that staff have the option of working remotely from their home in Ireland on a ‘blended’ basis. The blended working scheme is currently running on a pilot basis, with a minimum requirement of one day per week (or as business requires) based in the ESRI office. Full details will be provided at interview.

Terms & Application Procedure

The role is full-time (35 hours per week—standard working hours are 09.30-17.30, Monday—Friday; flexible working hours are supported). Appointments will be on a three-year, fixed-term contract basis, and the starting salary will be €48,325, which is the first point of the ESRI Administrative Officer (Higher) salary scale. 

To apply for this position, please click on the 'Apply' button above. The closing date for applications is 5 p.m. on Friday, 17 January 2025. All applications will be acknowledged. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed. The selection process will consist of shortlisting of candidates based on information supplied in their application documents, a preliminary interview and, for candidates successful at that stage, a final interview, presentation, and written assessment. Interviews will be conducted virtually via MS Teams.

The ESRI is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to accommodating the needs of people with disabilities to enable them to participate in the selection process. Please let us know if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to take into account when considering your application.