Climate Impacts and Resiliency Researcher

We are looking to hire a Climate Impacts Researcher to perform statistical analysis on extreme weather events using tools and methodology developed by the Breakthrough Institute’s Climate and Energy research team.

We are seeking applicants with a strong data science background. This role can be structured on a full-time or part-time basis and can be flexibly based from either of Breakthrough’s offices in Washington, D.C. or Berkeley, California. This position will report directly to Dr. Patrick Brown, Co-Director of the Climate and Energy Program.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Execute a portion of Breakthrough's climate impacts and adaptation research agenda, which will initially focus on the quantification of climate change influences on extreme weather with an emphasis on the magnitude of those changes in the historical record.

• Undertake qualitative and quantitative research, including memos, reports, working papers, and peer-reviewed publications.

• Write articles for the Breakthrough website and external publications.

• Contribute to research and funding proposals as needed.

• Follow and engage with the public discourse on climate and/or energy issues, including in the popular press and on social media.

• Over time, the position may expand to include other priorities like:

  • Quantification of least-cost strategies to increase resilience to climate and climate change

  • Quantification of the most effective adaptation strategies to various climate impacts

  • Quantifications of climate change impacts on society in the context of changes in economic standards of living and changes in technology

  • Quantifications of climate change impacts on society in the context of changes in spatial exposure to climate impacts and changes in vulnerability to those impacts

  • Articulating pragmatic, bipartisan policy recommendations to support practical on-the-ground solutions to climate impacts

  • Attend meetings as Breakthrough’s expert, speak on panels, and give interviews on subject knowledge.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, meteorology, climate science, disaster science, or similar.

• Master’s or PhD degree preferred but can be substituted with experience.

• Strong quantitative computational research skills, with a good background in statistics.

  • The applicant must be able to download, analyze, and quickly produce visuals and insights from a variety of large datasets.

  • The applicant must be very comfortable using at least one programming language, preferably open-source software like Python, or R.

Job Conditions:

• Non-remote employees are required to report to the office on certain days of the week and may choose to work from home on other designated days. Additional hours may be required to meet deadlines. Some travel and evening time may be required depending on events, invitations, presentations, meetings, and other job-related work outside of the office.

Salary:

• Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

• Excellent health insurance, dental, vision, paid leave, retirement plan, life insurance, disability insurance, professional development support, cell phone reimbursement, and commuter benefits.

Application Instructions

• We encourage you to submit materials as soon as possible, as we will interview and hire on a near-term rolling basis.

• Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample ONLY to jobs[at]thebreakthrough.org. Please do not submit your application through alternate job sites.

• Your email subject should say: <Your Name>: <Position Title>

• Your email should state how you heard about this position

• Your cover letter should reflect on Breakthrough’s work and how you perceive this opportunity as part of your career arc

• Your writing sample should be under 2500 words and best reflect your style as a writer