Open Earth Foundation · 3 weeks ago
Energy Systems & AI Research Lead: Integrating Energy Science, AI, and Global Research
United States
Full-time
Remote
Lead/Staff
$75K/yr - $115K/yrOpen Earth Foundation is a non-profit research and development organization focused on building open digital infrastructure for planetary stewardship. The Energy Systems & AI Research Lead will serve as the programme’s scientific integrator and primary energy-systems expert, connecting research across institutions and disciplines to deliver rigorous, decision-relevant outcomes.
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Hiring Manager
Melissa Hauser
Responsibilities
Lead scientific integration: Ensure national, urban, building-stock, and system-dynamics models cohere into one scientifically sound, multi-scale framework
Own the energy methodology: Set the scientific framing for cross-scale coupling and advance methods that connect energy systems across spatial and temporal scales
Coordinate the consortium . Align OEF, IIASA, CEU, Imperial College London, and the Active Inference Institute around shared scientific goals, methods, milestones, and deliverables
Translate across disciplines: Connect energy modellers, AI researchers, Bayesian-inference scientists, and policy experts so the science works end to end
Guide research and validation: Lead research planning, boundary-variable alignment, validation against published benchmarks and real-world data, and the development of publications
Keep the programme moving: Maintain the research roadmap, track dependencies and deliverables, follow up on decisions, and surface risks early across four distributed workstreams
Run scientific collaboration: . Organize consortium meetings, workshops, reviews, and milestone discussions, including engagement with Schmidt Sciences
Connect research to practice: Support pilot engagement and scientific validation with city and climate networks such as C40, ICLEI, and SCAC
Actively participate in team building and culture-development activities at Open Earth Foundation
Contribute to an open, collaborative research culture grounded in rigor, curiosity, and shared purpose
Qualification
Required
Master's or PhD in energy systems, energy engineering, or a closely related field, with recognized expertise in energy-systems research
Deep expertise across national, urban, and system-dynamics scales; postdoctoral research experience is strongly preferred
Experience integrating or leading multi-institutional, interdisciplinary research
A record of scientific coordination: translating between disciplines and aligning collaborators toward shared results
Fluency with AI-native productivity and coordination tools
Comfort in a technical, AI-driven environment—you need not write production code, but you should follow modelling and engineering discussions and engage meaningfully with the codebase
Strong written and verbal English communication skills
Ability to build trust and alignment across institutions, disciplines, cultures, and time zones
Ability to turn complex scientific conversations into clear decisions, ownership, and next steps
Confident facilitation of meetings, workshops, reviews, and stakeholder discussions
Dedication to fighting climate change
Scientific rigor paired with pragmatic programme leadership
Focus on collaboration, impact, and shared outcomes
Interest in nonprofit, mission-driven work
Preferred
AI/ML research programmes or deep-tech research and development
Academic–industry collaboration dynamics
International research partnerships spanning Europe and the Americas
Grant-funded research programmes, scientific reporting, and milestone reviews
Benefits
Scientific leadership of a high-profile international programme at the frontier of AI and climate science.
Unlimited paid time off, paid holidays, and paid sick leave.
Remote work in a dynamic, international, mission-driven environment
Company
Open Earth Foundation
Open Earth Foundation is a non-profit organization that develops open digital infrastructure to improve planetary resilience.
Founded in 2018
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$0.35MKey Investors
Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
2023-12-20Grant· $0.35M
Leadership Team
Martin Wainstein
Founder & Executive Director
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