The School of Geography and the Environment and the Department of Earth Sciences are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Carbon Accounting to work on the Net Zero Aviation project.
This position involves researching carbon accounting frameworks and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) policies for Geologically Balanced Fuels (GBFs). A GBF is a conventionally-refined jet fuel whose CO2 emissions are compensated for by an equivalent quantity of CO2 being captured and permanently stored in geological formations. GBFs are distinguished from conventional fossil fuels by the confidence that the supplier has stored an appropriate amount of carbon dioxide, permanently, to fully compensate for the climate impact of the carbon dioxide generated at fuel combustion.
For GBFs to have genuine, verifiable climate benefit, they need to be supported by robust MRV policies that provide transparency and confidence in multi-century storage integrity. The successful candidate will work with regional centres including the Victoria Institute to identify appropriate MRV frameworks for the responsible use of geological storage reservoirs for GBFs. They will also work with regional entities to consider the geologic potential and environmental monitoring framework for storage sites.
To facilitate claims of using GBFs on their corporate carbon footprint, airlines and fuel suppliers will require accounting frameworks. The researcher will therefore also research carbon accounting risks and solutions to GBFs, including issues between different fuels, such as how to avoid double-counting between e-fuel producers and CO2 providers. This task also explores operationalising GBFs in net zero standards, reporting, and planning, such as the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and net-zero transition plans.
Whilst this PDRA role will be within a work package on social license, environmental regulation, and carbon accounting, the successful candidate will also be working with several other PDRAs within this project. The other parts of the project will be focusing on a financial analysis of GBFs, and the policy and business models. The postholder will work with the team to create an integrated environmental, policy, social, and economical assessment of the feasibility of GBFs.
The role also includes a non-stipendiary Junior Research Fellowship at Linacre College (see below) and the postholder will hold the Fellowship under the terms of the College Statutes and By-Laws in force at any time during the appointment.
About you
You will hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil in a relevant field, together with relevant experience.
You will have an understanding as to how carbon accounting frameworks are implemented. You will possess specialist knowledge of environmental regulation, preferably MRV frameworks for carbon dioxide removal (CDR), have an understanding also to how carbon accounting frameworks are implemented, and have the ability to develop strong and trusted relationships with stakeholders.
You will be a self-starter, be able to work independently and you must have the ability to manage your own academic research and associated activities. You will have excellent communication skills including a track record of contributing to publications and presentations and an ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation.
The post is available to start as soon as possible. For a full job description and to apply, click here. The application deadline is 13 December 2024 at 12:00 GMT. Interviews will be held in mid-January 2025. Please direct all questions to personnel@earth.ox.ac.uk.
