Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy - UCCE Riverside County - 100% Time Represented

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is hiring an Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy in Washington, DC. This role involves conducting research on biomass, biofuels, and bioproducts, including geospatial and techno-economic assessments. Responsibilities include literature reviews, data analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and outreach workshops. Candidates should have a master's degree in relevant fields and experience in bioenergy or the forest industry.
About the position

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) offers a unique recruitment opportunity for an Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy, 100% - Represented. The Assistant Specialist will work under the guidance of the Principal Investigator and the Co-Principal Investigator. The Assistant Specialist will conduct geospatial, lifecycle, and techno-economic research on biomass, biofuels and other bioproducts, and will be involved in researching products utilizing forest-sourced biomass to showcase at the demonstration sites and provide technical assistance to companies. The work will involve conducting literature reviews, gathering and analyzing data through market research, conducting techno-economic assessment (TEA), lifecycle assessment (LCA), and geospatial analysis, drafting reports/papers, and potentially preparing grant applications. The work will require developing and maintaining close collaborations with stakeholders including the state and federal agencies, industry, research institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), forest landowners and the public.

Responsibilities
• Research evaluating sites for biomass-derived fuels including geospatial resource assessment, evaluating supply chains and developing case studies to repurpose existing sawmills and biopower plants
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• Conduct a geospatial resource assessment to identify and quantify regional available forest biomass feedstocks and elements to support business attraction and to provide them with preliminary information for project feasibilities
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• Identify current suppliers and service providers of biomass-generating enterprises. Evaluate their interest and capacity to expand operations in a broader bioeconomy. Identify challenges to operations (logistic, regulatory, fiscal) and potential solutions to issues
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• Identify and assess current training programs for harvest/collection of biomass feedstocks, training needs of potential new enterprises (e.g., biomass depots and pre-processing facilities), special equipment operational training (transport, pre-digester or pre-pyrolysis processing)
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• Conduct outreach workshops with the staff of federal and state agencies, research institutions, industry and forest landowners to lay the groundworks and ensure local alignment with 'success attributes' for bioproducts
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• Conduct economic and policy analysis of wood products industry in California
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• Develop and publish business plan 'Advancing the Bioeconomy in the Fresno Region: A Strategic Approach for Rural Economic Development' and 'Advancing the Bioeconomy in the San Bernardino Region: A Strategic Approach for Rural Economic Development' together with the Biomass Campuses

Requirements
• A master's degree or other advanced degrees in disciplines in Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Forestry, Wood Science, Natural Resources, Public Administration, and/or related fields is required by the appointment start date
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• Prior experience with bioeconomy, bioenergy, or forest industry
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• Experience with conducting geospatial modelling
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• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
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• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs
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• Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicle used is required
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• Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle

Nice-to-haves
• Excellent writing skills and a record of successful grant/funding applications
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• Strong technical background in biomass process engineering, optimization modeling, and/or LCA and TEA modeling tools
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• Record of publications in scientific journals

Benefits
• Health insurance
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• Retirement plans
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• Two days per month paid vacation
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• One day per month paid sick leave
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• Holidays