JOE Listings (Job Openings for Economists)

February 1, 2022 - July 31, 2022

Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago

This listing is inactive.
Energy Policy Institute at Chicago
Director, Air Quality Life Index

JOE ID Number: 2022-01_111468962
Date Posted: 02/09/2022
Date Inactive: 07/31/2022
Position Title/Short Description
Title: Director, Air Quality Life Index
Section: Full-Time Nonacademic
Location: Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATES
JEL Classification: Q5 -- Environmental Economics
Full Text of JOE Listing:

The Air Quality Life Index, or AQLI, is an award-winning, first-of-its-kind initiative that develops frontier research on pollution’s impact on life expectancy and communicates that research to policymakers, media, and citizens around the world. Developed by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), the AQLI is based on cutting-edge research by EPIC’s director Michael Greenstone that quantifies the causal relationship between human exposure to air pollution and reduced life expectancy. Combining this analysis with highly localized pollution measurements yields unprecedented insight into the true cost of air pollution in communities around the world. Through a virtual platform, users anywhere on Earth can zoom in to their community and understand the effect of the air they breathe on their life expectancy. Equipped with this data, policymakers, and members of the public can determine the benefits of policies to reduce pollution and take informed action. The AQLI’s virtual platform is fully available in English, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese. Its data has been used to produce detailed pollution analysis for countries around the world in local languages, including Urdu, Indonesian, Thai, and more. These findings have been used to brief senior government leaders in some of the most polluted countries, and have received coverage from more than 300 media outlets, reaching more than 1.1 billion people globally in both top-tier and local outlets across print, digital, television, and radio platforms. Since its launch in 2018, the AQLI has featured prominently in air pollution discussions around the world and has played a role in clean air policy developments in multiple countries.

Job Summary


Reporting to EPIC Faculty Director Michael Greenstone, the Director-AQLI will be responsible for determining, managing, and successfully executing the next stage of the AQLI’s development. As the public face of the AQLI, the Director-AQLI is expected to play an active role in global discussions to raise awareness about the health impacts of air pollution, and the clean air policies that can reduce pollution. The Director-AQLI will manage the production of a steady stream of original and creative AQLI content, and also regularly present the AQLI to new audiences around the world. The Director-AQLI will collaborate with colleagues at EPIC and at UChicago to identify opportunities to implement cutting-edge research projects and to influence the design of clean air policies globally.

Education:

Ph.D. in economics, or a closely related field with demonstrated understanding of the development and/or energy economics.

Experience:

Background in global economic development and/or energy/environment research.
Participation in economic policymaking.
Management of research and communications staff.


Posting Statement


Effective October 15, 2021, the University of Chicago requires COVID vaccination for all students, faculty, and staff members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.


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We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.


All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

Application Requirements:
  • External Application Link
  • Letters of Reference Link
Application deadline: 07/31/2022