Lehigh University, Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES), invites qualified individuals to apply for an open-rank, tenured position in energy policy and environmental analysis, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The successful candidate will be offered a joint appointment in ACES and the Lehigh University department that best matches the candidate’s interests and background.
Applications are encouraged from outstanding candidates whose research addresses pressing challenges associated with sustainable, resilient, and affordable electrification and policy issues related to the energy transition. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, regulation and policy design for distributed energy resources; economic analysis of clean energy incentives and investments; energy affordability, household-level energy burden, and access disparities; cost-benefit analysis of electrification in housing, transportation, and industry; climate and environmental justice in energy transitions; coordination of local, state, and federal energy policies; behavioral responses to energy pricing, efficiency standards, and demand-side management; interactions between public finance, innovation policy, and energy systems.
The successful candidate will: Maintain an active research agenda in energy policy and economics and lead and/or collaborate on large proposals with faculty affiliated with ACES; Engage with policymakers, industry partners, and communities to inform and translate research; Teach courses in energy policy, economics, or related subjects at the undergraduate and/or graduate level; and support and contribute to the service at ACES, their home department, college, and university.
Likely academic departments for the individual include Economics or DATA (College of Business), Electrical and Computer Engineering or Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (P. C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science), Political Science or Earth & Environmental Sciences (College of Arts and Sciences), or another relevant department and college. The individual will also be expected to collaborate in interdisciplinary research with ACES. Candidates at the tenured Associate and Full Professor levels are also expected to lead collaborative research projects within and beyond the center.
This position is part of a strategic university-wide initiative to advance interdisciplinary research and education. ACES (aces.lehigh.edu) is one of three university research centers that Lehigh University announced as part of a major strategic investment in research excellence. Aligned with the Lehigh Strategy, ACES exemplifies the university’s commitment to tackling complex societal challenges through collaborative, cross-disciplinary approaches. The center is expected to more than double its faculty over the next five years, through strategic hires at the early career and established levels. ACES brings together Lehigh’s interdisciplinary expertise to develop the technology and policy solutions needed to address the unique energy challenges and goals in a range of communities.
Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. Recognized among the nation’s highly ranked research universities, Lehigh offers a rigorous academic community for over 7,500 students. Lehigh University has some 5,800 undergraduates, 1,800 graduate students, and nearly 600 full-time faculty members. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA, a vibrant and historic area. Over 840,000 people live in the Lehigh Valley, which is in close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.
JEL Classifications:
C Mathematical and Quantitative Methods
D Microeconomics
L Industrial Organization
Q Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics
Q2 Renewable Resources and Conservation
Q4 Energy
Q5 Environmental Economics
Qualifications
Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. in Economics, relevant areas of Engineering, Public Policy, or a related field by the date of employment. The individual hired will be expected to have a demonstrated record—or strong potential—for scholarly excellence and publication.
Application Instructions
Review of Applications will begin November 15, 2025. For full consideration, applications should be received online by December 20, 2025. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should submit the following materials:
1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Job Market Paper
4. Research statement that describes past scholarly contributions and future research directions
5. Teaching statement that describes instructional philosophy and courses that the candidate would want to teach or develop
6. Those applying for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor should include three letters of recommendation
Any inquiries regarding this search should be directed to inacejo@lehigh.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national origin (including shared ancestry), pregnancy or related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University is committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. Lehigh University provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits, and supports faculty members’ work/life balance.