Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy - UCCE Time Represented

The position of Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources is based in Riverside County, California. The role involves conducting geospatial, lifecycle, and techno-economic research on biomass and biofuels, collaborating with various stakeholders, and providing technical assistance to companies. Responsibilities include data analysis, literature reviews, and outreach workshops to support the bioeconomy.
Position: Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy - UCCE Riverside County - 100% Time Represented
Assistant Specialist in Biomass and Bioenergy - UCCE Riverside County - 100% Time Represented

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

Application Window

Open date: April 9, 2025

Next review date: Monday, May 12, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Aug 1, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Position Overview
Location Headquarters:
Riverside County, California.

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.
• Conduct a geospatial resource assessment to identify and quantify regional available forest biomass feed stocks and elements to support business attraction and to provide them with preliminary information for project feasibilities.
• 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.
• Identify and assess current training programs for harvest/collection of biomass feed stocks, 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).
• 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.
• Conduct economic and policy analysis of wood products industry in California.
• 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.Reporting Relationship: The Assistant Specialist is administratively and programmatically responsible to the Biomass and Bioenergy Advisor in Riverside County.

Required Qualifications and Skills

Required Qualifications:

Education:

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.

Additional Qualifications:
• Prior experience with bioeconomy, bioenergy, or forest industry.
• Experience with conducting geospatial modelling.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• This is not a remote position. The candidate must be available to work onsite. In accordance with UC ANR Flexible Work Guidelines flexible work agreements are available upon approval by supervisors and periodic re-evaluation.
• Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle.Desired Qualifications:
• Excellent writing skills and a record of successful grant/funding applications.
• Strong technical background in biomass process engineering, optimization modeling, and/or LCA and TEA modeling tools.
• Record of publications in scientific journals.Skills Required: To be successful, the Assistant Specialist requires skills in the following areas:

Technical…