Academic
Job Category
Faculty Non Bargaining
Job Profile
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department
Ellis,Naoko | Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering | Faculty of Applied Science
Compensation Range
See details below.
Posting End Date
August 26, 2025
Note:Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
August 31, 2026
Salary Range: $65,000 to $80,000 CAD/year, commensurate with experience
Postdoctoral Fellow Transdisciplinary Approaches to Energy Transition, Education, and Complexity
Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative & Systems Beings Lab (SBL), The University of British Columbia (UBC)
Review of applications will begin August 5, 2025, and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interviews are anticipated for mid to late summer.
Start Date: August to October 2025 -- depending on successful applicant
Location: UBC Vancouver
Duration: 1 year, renewable for a second year based on performance and funding availability
Salary Range: $65,000 to $80,000 CAD/year, commensurate with experience
Time Allocation: 40 hrs/week ACET project (FTE: 100% -- 40 hrs/week)
Position Summary
The Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral research fellow. The successful candidate will work as a member of the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) , a dynamic research team advancing just and sustainable energy transitions through transdisciplinary collaboration. Funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, this position offers an opportunity to engage with leading researchers, policy makers, and communities on the front lines of social and environmental change.
The fellow will work under the supervision of Dr. Naoko Ellis (Engineering) and Dr. Derek Gladwin (Education), co-leads of the Systems Beings Lab at UBC, and contribute to dynamic research at the intersection of energy transition, education, communication, and systems change. The ideal candidate will bring strong theoretical and practical expertise in sustainability, energy systems, and collaborative learning, with openness to diverse disciplinary and community-based approaches.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and co-author peer-reviewed publications, funding applications, and reports
- Design and facilitate workshops, public talks, and community engagement activities
- Conduct a meta-study on collaborative transdisciplinary PhD cohort
- Co-develop energy literacy and communication projects
- Collaborate with academic, government, and community partners to co-create research directions
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate students involved in the project
- Manage project logistics, communications, and partner coordination
Required Qualifications
- PhD (within the last 3 years) in a field related to sustainability, education, energy systems, communication, or design
- Demonstrated experience in transdisciplinary or collaborative research methods
- Research focus in one or more energy-related areas such as energy transition, energy literacy, systems complexity, climate or energy communication, or societal transitions – welcoming applicants from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including technical fields, humanities, education, policy, and others.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- A developing track record of high-quality publications
- Proven ability to manage research projects and partnerships
- Capacity to work independently and contribute creative research ideas
- Experience with public speaking and engagement and communicating research to wider audiences
- Familiarity with regenerative design, systems thinking, or social change approaches is an asset
Desirable Qualities
- Experience working with diverse communities or equity-deserving groups
- Familiarity with energy justice, Indigenous-led energy transitions, or education for sustainability
- A collaborative, adaptable, and relational approach to team and research work
Application Process
To apply, please submit the following documents in a single PDF file
1. Curriculum Vitae (max 5 pages)
2. Cover Letter (1 page)
3. Description of Current Research (1 page)
4. Proposed Research Direction aligned with ACET (1 page)
5. Contact information for two academic references (referees will be contacted only if shortlisted)
To learn more about the ACET initiative, please visit:
https://www.uvic.ca/research-innovation/research-at-uvic/climate-environmental-change-and-sustainability/community-energy-transition/index.php
About UBC
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and instruction, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. We are recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia (BC) and Canada, and consistently chosen as one of BC’s best places to work and top employers. We prioritize and intentionally focus on building a diverse and inclusive workforce, which is why UBC is recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. Professional growth and career development are promoted and encouraged at UBC, and opportunities to achieve career aspirations are included in our strategic plan.
Equity Statement
UBC is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.
UBC Point Grey (Vancouver) campus sits on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation.
