Dear all,

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher to join our team, focusing on socio-technical analysis of sustainable urban energy transitions. We are seeking a candidate who can make significant contributions to high-impact research in this crucial field. Cities play a pivotal role in global decarbonization efforts, accounting for 60-70% of energy-related CO₂ emissions. While technological advancements in urban energy systems offer immense potential for reducing CO₂ emissions and energy costs, their widespread implementation faces complex socio-technical challenges. These extend beyond mere technology adoption and economic analysis, encompassing crucial aspects such as social acceptance, data governance, innovative business models, and adaptive regulatory frameworks. Addressing these social and institutional challenges is essential for accelerating sustainable urban energy transitions.

Our research builds upon the expertise in science, technology, and innovation policy, as well as energy, environment, and sustainability policy and social and urban policy. Our research integrates techno-economic analysis and policy considerations related to rooftop PV, EVs, urban decarbonization, renewable energy systems, hydrogen systems, and urban carbon mapping.

Our work emphasizes the need to bridge the gap from technological readiness to institutional readiness in decentralized energy systems and highlights the co-evolutionary nature of technical, economic, social, environmental, and institutional aspects in microgrids. Furthermore, research on urban energy initiatives highlights the importance of integrating qualitative methods, such as sustainability transition theories and action research, with techno-economic analysis, and strengthening university-industry collaboration and policy/governance reforms.

This position is also part of a larger initiative by the Institute for Climate and People (ICP), a research platform at Tohoku University. ICP brings together researchers, policymakers, businesses, and communities to create practical solutions for climate resilience, renewable energy, and environmental governance. The post-doctoral researcher will have the opportunity to participate in ICP’s collaborative activities, especially in advancing urban decarbonization in Japan and abroad.

The post-doctoral researcher will contribute to one or more of the following research themes:

• Integrated Technological, Social, Economic, and Policy Modeling for Urban Energy Transitions: Moving beyond traditional techno-economic analysis, this theme focuses on developing comprehensive models that integrate social acceptance factors (e.g., perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust, community participation ) and policy variables (e.g., specific incentive structures, regulatory frameworks, governance mechanisms). The goal is to incorporate multi-objective analysis of social equity, urban resilience, energy justice, and public acceptance, and to utilize advanced data analysis and machine learning for highly localized adaptive optimization and robust scenario planning.

• Advancing Data Governance and Institutions in Integrated Smart Energy Systems: This theme addresses the risks of datafication, surveillance, and cybersecurity in smart cities. It focuses on developing and implementing privacy-by-design principles from the initial stages of smart energy system development. This includes exploring advanced data minimization techniques, anonymization methods, data perturbation strategies, robust encryption technologies, and the application of blockchain technology to enhance trust and data ownership.

• Designing Innovative and Equitable Business Models for Community-Scale Energy Integration: This theme focuses on developing innovative business models to ensure the financial sustainability and equitable access to urban energy solutions for all socioeconomic strata. It involves investigating hybrid business models that strategically combine elements of public-private partnerships, community ownership structures, and innovative revenue-sharing mechanisms. It also includes developing comprehensive frameworks for assessing social and environmental ROI alongside traditional financial ROI, and exploring the transformative role of digital platforms for decentralized energy markets.

• Regulatory Innovation and Legal Frameworks for Renewable Energy Adoption in Urban Planning: This theme focuses on designing adaptive regulations and legal frameworks to enable widespread adoption of urban renewable energy. It involves developing and advocating for rights to sunlight and solar access laws to protect existing solar installations from future shading legally. Additionally, it aims to standardize and streamline permitting processes for renewable energy installations, integrate and optimize financial incentives into regulatory frameworks, and establish clear legal frameworks for critical grid infrastructure upgrades and the integration of distributed energy resources.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research with significant real-world impact on urban decarbonization and sustainable development. We particularly encourage applications from candidates who can foster interdisciplinary collaboration and contribute to a vibrant research environment. The inherent complexity of challenges in urban renewable energy integration, such as spatial constraints, grid limitations, regulatory hurdles, social acceptance, and aesthetic concerns, necessitates concerted efforts across technological, economic, policy, and social dimensions.

We look forward to receiving applications from highly qualified candidates who share our commitment to accelerating sustainable urban energy transitions.

Conditions:

• Deadline: September 30, 2025
• Vacancies: Post-doctoral Researcher: 1 position
• Term: 2 years (possibility of renewal up to 5 years)
• Start Date: As soon as possible after October 1, 2025 (Negotiable)
• Salary: 5 to 7 million yen per year (depending on experience)

Location:

• Urban Decarbonization Lab (Kobashi Lab), Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University (468-1 Aobamaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture) for 9-10 months per year.
• Yarime Lab at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for 2-3 months per year

Application Documents:

• CV
• Cover letter,
• An outline of research interests (maximum two pages)

Inquiries about application:

Prof. Takuro Kobashi, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University

E-mail: takuro.kobashi.e5@tohoku.ac.jp

Web: https://web.tohoku.ac.jp/tkobashi/web/

Prof. Masaru Yarime, Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

E-mail: yarime@ust.hk

Web: https://yarime.net/

Submission of application documents:

Ms. Sonoko Wilson (sonoko.wilson.e4@tohoku.ac.jp).

Remarks:

Tohoku University promotes activities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and welcomes the active application of diverse talents. For the purpose of improving the enrollment rate of female faculty members based on Article 8 of the Act on Securing, Etc. of Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment, priority will be given to the recruitment of women when the ability required for the position is considered equivalent based on fair evaluation.

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