The Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management at the Earth Institute is seeking several graduate-level research assistants for fall 2015, to assist with the program’s various research projects. Details and requirements of all openings are below. Applications for all positions are due Friday, August 14, 2015. You must be a graduate student at Columbia University.
The Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management provides a rigorous analytic base to help inform sustainability decision-making. Our research addresses the fundamental issues facing professionals and policy makers implementing sustainability strategies. We seek to better understand the mechanisms behind sustainability management, in order to develop and promote more effective public policies and organizational practices.
1. Research Assistant, Ecosystem Services (3 positions)
We are looking for three graduate-level research assistants for a project on ecosystem compensation in China. The interns will support the research program with desk research and compilation of case studies through reading academic papers and government reports on eco-services payments in the U.S. and other countries. The interns will also develop best practices on payments for ecosystem services at national level and sub-national levels, which will culminate in a report. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
The position requires excellent research and written communication skills. The candidates must be able to work in a fast-paced environment while remaining organized and precise in order to deliver under multiple deadlines. The candidates must be able to multitask, work independently and as part of a team on several projects. Applicants should be highly motivated, professional and detail oriented. Familiarity with sustainable development and a strong interest in the environment is preferred.
Candidates should be available to work 15 hours per week and will be compensated $15 per hour. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Kelsie DeFrancia at kdefrancia@ei.columbia.edu by August 14, 2015. The email subject should read ‘RA Application (Ecosystem).’
2. Research Assistant, Sustainable Finance (1 position)
We are seeking an intern to assist with research for a book focused on the role of sustainability in the financial sector. This book outlines the rationale for and methods used in six areas where financial acumen has been harnessed to the goal of combining monetary return with long run sustainability. The research assistant will support authors Dr. Satyajit Bose and Dr. Dong Guo in their work for the book. The intern may be tasked with background research on related topics, compiling cases and examples, and generating tables and graphs with quantitative and qualitative data.
The position requires excellent research and written communication skills. The candidate must be organized and precise and deliver under multiple deadlines. The candidate must be able to multitask, and work independently and as part of a team. Applicants should be highly motivated, professional and detail oriented. Familiarity with quantitative analysis, sustainable finance and markets, and a strong interest in the environment is preferred.
Candidates should be available to work 10-15 hours per week and will be compensated $15 per hour. Please send a resume and cover letter to Kelsie DeFrancia at kdefrancia@ei.columbia.edu by August 14, 2015. The email subject should read ‘RA Application (Sustainable Finance).’
3. Research Assistant, Metrics (1 position)
We are seeking a research assistant to provide support on a research project on sustainability metrics in China. The intern will assist with a study that integrates various methodologies to design a robust new sustainability metrics framework. We’ll do this through expert knowledge and community stakeholder surveys to develop an indicator set that covers the economic, environmental, social and institutional aspects of sustainability for U.S. cities. The intern will perform research and comparative analyses of existing frameworks, engage in literature reviews, write case studies, and develop recommendations for the refining of the framework.
The position requires excellent research and writing skills. The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise, understandable material. The candidates must be organized and precise and deliver under multiple deadlines. The candidates must be able to multitask, work independently and as part of a team on several projects. Applicants should be highly motivated, professional and detail oriented. Familiarity with quantitative analysis and a strong interest in the environment and sustainable development is preferred.
The candidate should be available to work 10-15 hours per week and will be compensated $15 per hour. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Hayley Martinez at hmartinez@ei.columbia.edu by August 14, 2015. The email subject should read ‘RA Application (Metrics).’
4. Research Assistant, Sustainable Tourism (1 position)
We are seeking a research assistant to help with a research project on sustainability in China. The research assistant will help with a study that looks at the relationship between the tourism industry, sustainability, and economic development in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. The candidate will help with conducting a literature review, writing reports, and analyzing best practices in sustainability and tourism.
The position requires excellent research and writing skills. The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise, understandable material. The candidate must be organized and precise and deliver under multiple deadlines. The candidate must be able to multitask, work independently and as part of a team on several projects. Applicants should be highly motivated, professional and detail oriented. Familiarity with quantitative analysis and a strong interest in the environment and sustainable development is preferred.
The candidate should be available to work 10-15 hours per week and will be compensated $15 per hour. Please send a resume and cover letter to Hayley Martinez at hmartinez@ei.columbia.edu by August 14, 2015. The email subject should read ‘RA Application (Sustainable Tourism).’
