The University of Delaware is inviting applications for a Ph.D. research assistant to support a new interdisciplinary, multi-institutional (UC Davis, U. of Chicago, & Lawrence Berkeley National Lab) research project. The project is a three-year research endeavor funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 3 (SEEDS 3)) to better understand trends, barriers, motivations and catalysts to co-adoption of residential rooftop photovoltaics (RPV) and electric vehicles (EVs) in The United States, along with causality and order of events. Positions are competitive and include a tuition waiver for Fall and Spring semesters and an annual stipend of approximately $29,500. In some programs, the GRE is no longer required, and students may matriculate in either February (Spring) 2022 (preferred) or September (Fall) 2022. The project commenced on 1st July, 2021.
The research has three main components:
- semi-structured interviews of key informants
- an internet survey to examine non-adoption, adoption, and co-adoption practices, norms,and attitudes
- choice experiments to test the efficacy of low-cost policy interventions in increasing rates of co-adoption.
Eligibility
- High motivation
- Training in quantitative social science data analysis, such as econometrics
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Preferred skills and experience
- Background in energy policy, social psychology, or economics, including behavioral economics
- Training in social science data collection, including survey development
- Training in qualitative social science data methods
With grant funding in hand, timely application is encouraged. Review of applications will begin immediately.
To apply for the research assistantship, contact Professor Jeremy Firestone. When applying for graduate admission, candidates should note in the personal statement the interest in an RPV-EV co-adoption Ph.D. graduate research assistantship.
