Data-Driven Environmental Policy: Sustainability Metrics (EPI)
The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, a joint undertaking between the School of the Environment and Yale Law School, advances sustainability governance, finance, and research with data-driven analyses. As a leading initiative in evidence-based policymaking, the Center’s work promotes applying science and law to enhance the resilience and impact of sustainability policies in countries around the world.
The Center seeks Tobin Research Fellows with a passion for applying their economics expertise to resolve outstanding environmental issues, like climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss, green finance, and the degradation of the global commons. Tobin Fellows will work closely with the Center’s faculty director, Dr. Rob Klee, the Center’s Associate Director, Meghan Kircher, and postdoctoral associate Sebastian Block.
Tobin Fellows will have the opportunity to work on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The EPI provides a leading data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world. Translating the latest scientific research into easy-to-understand indicators, the EPI’s analyses and country rankings highlight leaders and laggards in sustainability, identify best practices, and guide decision makers on the road towards a more sustainable future. Tobin Fellows will have the opportunity to research metrics related to sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, waste management, and many other environmental sustainability topics to enhance the upcoming 2024 EPI report.
Depending on the Tobin Fellow’s interests and background, possible research tasks include:
- Exploration, analysis, and visualization of global environmental datasets;
- Assistance with quantifying and ranking countries environmental impacts and performance;
- Performing literature reviews and writing memos on issues relating to sustainable development; and
- Assistance with other tasks to advance the Center’s research agenda.
Requisite Skills and Qualifications:
Applicants should have excellent writing skills, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and interests in sustainable economic development and in data-driven environmental policy. These positions require flexibility to rapidly research and produce written deliverables in support of the Center’s research agenda. Successful applicants will work well independently and within larger research groups.
Special Application Instructions
- In the “Additional File” section, please upload a short writing sample (such as a previous term paper, essay, or class research project)
- In the “Briefly describe your prior research experience and your research interests” section, please write a statement of no more than 300 words in length. In it, please mention your preference for the EPI or the YISF role, and describe how this position matches your experience and professional development goals.
Please contact us with questions (ycelp@yale.edu).