Postdoctoral Research Associate - Corporate Climate Action and Social Tipping Points

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities and is among is the top ten research universities in the nation for federal research expenditures as well as for federally funded social and behavioral sciences research and development.

Here at Carolina, our highly skilled postdocs play a vital role in our research enterprise and towards our overall commitment to research excellence. Across many disciplines, postdocs contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. They provide innovative ideas and perspectives, foster a stimulating research environment and advance knowledge within their fields. Postdocs are crucial members of our scientific research workforce, contributors to our research outputs and an important reason why Carolina is one of the leading public research institutions in the country.

UNC-Chapel Hill offers postdocs comprehensive medical and vision coverage, paid leave, and benefits and services that support professional development and a healthy work/life balance. Chapel Hill regularly ranks as one of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, a reputation guided by the diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) has a multifaceted mission: (1) To strengthen environmental research capacity across UNC by supporting a multi-disciplinary community of scholars that enhances collaboration, increases sharing of knowledge, and identifies solutions to the world's critical environmental problems. (2) To work in partnership across UNC and with external partners to coordinate and deliver 21st century educational programs that provide students with the experience and skills to thrive in a growing global economy. (3) To put new environmental knowledge into action by engaging and serving communities, here in North Carolina and around the world. (4) To fuel and harness the university's sustainability activities through the Sustainable Carolina Initiative

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Data-Driven EnviroLab ( DDL) is an interdisciplinary and international research initiative based at UNC's IE that is redefining how data is used to tackle the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Analyzing the global environment at multiple geographical and jurisdictional levels - from cities, countries, and regions to local communities and corporations - we turn complex, large-scale, and often messy datasets into actionable insights that shape policy, drive accountability, and create real-world impact. We operate with a commitment to evidence-based, equitable solutions, building connections across disciplines, sectors, and geographies while giving special attention to underrepresented communities and data-scarce regions in the Global South. DDL was founded and is led by Associate Professor Angel Hsu.

The DDL is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to an interdisciplinary research initiative to study corporate climate action and its potential to catalyze social tipping points (i.e., nonlinear shifts in societal norms, policy, technology uptake, and consumer behavior) that will accelerate climate action beyond a company's direct emissions footprint. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be researching how corporations contribute to decarbonization and net-zero trajectories through systemic influence (i.e., influencing new governmental regulations, or industry partnerships) beyond their corporations' operational reductions. The goal of the research project is to develop a novel and robust research that provides cutting-edge thought leadership that has real-world application paired with academic rigor.

Specifically, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will lead a team of researchers in conceptualizing and operationalizing corporate catalytic cascading mechanisms, or how corporations' climate action can build momentum and positively influence national climate commitments. As a researcher in the DDL, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will work with team members and external collaborators in defining how corporate climate actions, such as net-zero commitments, procurement shifts, public communication, and coalition-building, can function as triggers of systemic social change.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will lead the team in developing a conceptual framework that links corporate spheres of influence to social tipping mechanisms (e.g., norm diffusion, policy mimicry, or supply chain alignment) and outline the theoretical pathways through which corporate actions have impact beyond their organization's direct emissions and resource use. To the extent possible given data availability, we will test our methodology using real-world data to establish whether we empirically see evidence of corporate social tipping/catalytic cascading effects.

The position is initially for 1 year with the possibility of extension pending funding and performance.

PhD in Environmental Studies/Policy, Organizational Studies, Management, Business, Political science, Sociology, Economics, or related disciplines, especially in the social sciences.

- PhD in Environmental Studies/Policy, Organizational Studies, Management, Business, Political science, Sociology, Economics, or related disciplines, or a closely related field.
- Experience in conducting research on corporate sustainability.
- Experience and familiarity with existing environmental and/or climate governance frameworks and evaluation criteria.
- Able to think critically, proactively and work both independently and in an interdisciplinary team environment.

- Background in corporate climate action, CSR, ESG reporting, carbon accounting, or net-zero emissions planning.
- Excellent organization and time management skills.

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at (919) 962-9982 or send an email to opahr@unc.edu.

Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.