Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Midwest Regional Energy Symbiosis

About the role

The University of Notre Dame invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of researchers from Notre Dame, Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin. The fellowship involves developing and piloting an AI-enabled material flow and industrial symbiosis framework that connects energy, water, and resource loops.

Responsibilities

• Developing an innovative industrial symbiosis framework that outlines short-term feasible and long-term transformative cross-sector exchanges.
• Creating a transparent AI-enabled and replicable methodology that can be adapted to other Midwestern and U.S. regions to support energy-water-resource engineering and circular economy research.
• Serving as the central analytical and coordination lead for the project, working under the technical guidance of the PI and co-investigators.
• Contributing to key project outcomes, including, but not limited to: Developing an innovative industrial symbiosis framework that outlines short-term feasible and long-term transformative cross-sector exchanges; Creating a transparent AI-enabled and replicable methodology that can be adapted to other Midwestern and U.S. regions to support energy-water-resource engineering and circular economy research; Coordinating meetings and work with faculty teams and other research assistants; Leading the co-authorship of interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals and developing the foundation for future grant proposals.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. (in hand by the starting date) in industrial ecology, environmental engineering, civil and environmental engineering, systems engineering, sustainable manufacturing, urban systems, architecture/engineering, environmental science, geography, data science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: material flow analysis, life-cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, industrial symbiosis, circular economy, resource recovery, waste management, water-energy-food systems, sustainable manufacturing, or low-carbon construction/material systems.
• Strong quantitative and data-integration skills, including experience working with geospatial data, infrastructure datasets, environmental inventories, or regional-scale resource-flow data.
• Expertise with LCA/MFA tools, databases, or methods; experience with software such as SimaPro, openLCA, Brightway, Python, R, GIS platforms, or related analytical tools is desirable.
• Experience with AI, machine learning, optimization, spatial analysis, scenario modeling, or decision-support methods is strongly preferred, especially when applied in transparent, interpretable, or policy-relevant contexts.
• Ability to synthesize complex multi-sector information into clear analytical outputs, including maps, figures, diagrams, tables, technical memos, and scholarly manuscripts.
• Strong writing, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to work across a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research team.
• Interest in regional sustainability, circular resource engineering, industrial ecology, and applied research that supports energy-water-resource loop closure.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. (in hand by the starting date) in industrial ecology, environmental engineering, civil and environmental engineering, systems engineering, sustainable manufacturing, urban systems, architecture/engineering, environmental science, geography, data science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: material flow analysis, life-cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, industrial symbiosis, circular economy, resource recovery, waste management, water-energy-food systems, sustainable manufacturing, or low-carbon construction/material systems.
• Strong quantitative and data-integration skills, including experience working with geospatial data, infrastructure datasets, environmental inventories, or regional-scale resource-flow data.
• Expertise with LCA/MFA tools, databases, or methods; experience with software such as SimaPro, openLCA, Brightway, Python, R, GIS platforms, or related analytical tools is desirable.
• Experience with AI, machine learning, optimization, spatial analysis, scenario modeling, or decision-support methods is strongly preferred, especially when applied in transparent, interpretable, or policy-relevant contexts.
• Ability to synthesize complex multi-sector information into clear analytical outputs, including maps, figures, diagrams, tables, technical memos, and scholarly manuscripts.
• Strong writing, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to work across a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research team.
• Interest in regional sustainability, circular resource engineering, industrial ecology, and applied research that supports energy-water-resource loop closure.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.