Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP)

• Michael Oppenheimer:  PHYSICAL SCIENCE OF EARTH SYSTEM: (1) Modeling of dynamic properties of ice sheets on a variety of geographic scales (in collaboration with colleagues at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, GFDL). (2) Analysis of paleoclimate proxy data for sea level, ice extent, and temperature to improve the use of analogs in forecasting future sea level rise. This project focuses particularly, but not exclusively, on proxies from the Last Interglacial; see http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v462/n7275/full/nature08686.html. DECISION THEORY and POLICY: Modeling the role of learning in decisions where structural model error is a key concern. This work will be coordinated with ongoing case studies of actual scientific learning coupled to policy decisions; see http://www.springerlink.com/content/7uw8150573197707/fulltext.pdf
  CLIMATE IMPACTS: Econometric and other quantitative methods applied to assess human migration and other responses to climate change; see www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1002632107 and http://www.springerlink.com/content/j44738674m504175/fulltext.pdf
   

• Denise Mauzerall : :  CHEMISTRY – CLIMATE MODELING (in collaboration with colleagues at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, GFDL and Civil and Environmental Engineering, CEE, department).  Research on:  1) sources, transport, health and climate impacts of black carbon including impacts on surface energy/mass balance of glaciers and effects on water resources and examination of benefits of various mitigation strategies; 2) benefits of various industry level mitigation strategies for methane and other pollutants for global ozone, aerosols and climate; 3)  benefits for air quality and climate of increased penetration of renewable energy.  4) benefits of mitigation strategies for nitrous oxide and methane from agriculture.  Scientific research is oriented to inform policy decision-making.
   
• David Wilcove: --  Impact of reptile trade on wild populations in Asia (field work in markets and villages); identification of threatened mammal migrations in North America (skills in remote sensing an asset); land-use changes and associated impacts on birds, mammals, and other taxa in Asia or South America (field work).

• Alexander Glaser: Nuclear energy in the context of nonproliferation and climate change, with a focus on (1) exploring nuclear-energy options and constraints in developing countries or (2) on incorporating uncertainties in the treatment of nuclear power in integrated assessment models. (3) Technical and policy analysis of the nuclear fuel cycle, including approaches to strengthening international oversight and safeguards of nuclear facilities; for details, see http://nuclearfutures.princeton.edu

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

The Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University invites applications for post-doctoral or more senior research associates to investigate the potential for anthropogenic climate change to cause significant migration of human populations. The research will be conducted under the direction of Professors Alan Krueger and Michael Oppenheimer. An area of particular interest is forecasting the migration response to climate-related changes in agricultural productivity and responses to expectations about both future climate and agriculture. Applications from those proposing analogous quantitative studies of adaptation are also of interest.

Applicants must have a PhD and a  strong background in labor economics and econometrics and the capability to analyze large data bases. The project will have ready access to expertise on climate modeling in Princeton’s Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences Program and NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Princeton University is an equal opportunity employer and complies with applicable EEP and affirmative action regulations.

The Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University invites applications at the post-doctoral research associate or more senior research level to develop agent-based models (ABMs) for studying agricultural adaptation, land use, and migration patterns in response to climatic variability/change and socio-economic forces. The researcher will work with scientists and statisticians to design experiments and to validate ABMs against observations. Research will have an initial focus on understanding recent historical land use patterns in South Africa, and will extend to investigations of migration flows. The research will be conducted under the direction of Professor Michael Oppenheimer and Dr. Lyndon Estes, and will build upon recent work aimed at understanding the potential ecological impacts of human climate change adaptation (see http://www.princeton.edu/~lestes/lde/Projects.html ) and the influence of climate on human migration. This appointment will be for one year [with possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding].