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Research Assistants

Environmental Performance Metrics and Yale Initiative on Sustainable Finance

The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, a joint initiative between the Yale School of the Environment and Yale Law School, applies data-driven environmental policymaking to advance sustainability agendas in governance, industrial, and societal applications around the world. The Center is directed by Professor Daniel Esty, an internationally-renowned expert in environmental metrics, green corporate strategies, and sustainable economic development. The Center seeks Tobin Research Fellows with a passion for applying their economics expertise to resolve outstanding environmental issues. Tobin Fellows will work closely with Professor Esty, Center Associate Director Quinn Yeargain, and Dr. Martin Wolf.

Depending on the Tobin Fellow’s interests and background, possible research projects include designing environmental metrics in support of the 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) report and conducting research for the Yale Initiative on Sustainable Finance (YISF).

The EPI is the world’s leading data-driven framework to track the success of environmental policies in over 180 countries around the world. Fellows would work to advance fresh insights into leading policies on climate change, air quality, biodiversity, and other issues relating to sustainable economic development.

YISF is a joint collaboration between the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. It focuses its research on developing high-quality metrics for the disclosure of companies’ environmental performance and identifying best practices for corporate sustainability.

Specific research tasks may 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 and duties to further 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 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.

Please also include the following:

  1. A résumé or curriculum vitae
  2. A short writing sample (such as a previous term paper, essay, or class research project)
  3. A statement of no more than 300 words in length detailing on how this position matches your experience and professional development goals