Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs - UTK

The Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications for a post-doctoral position from doctoral candidates or recent Ph.D. recipients interested in the economics and policy of critical minerals.

JEL Classification: F -- International Economics; L -- Industrial Organization; Q -- Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics

Keywords: critical minerals, natural resources, international trade, industrial policy

The successful candidate will work with Charles Sims at the Baker School, Georg Schaur at the Department of Economics at UTK, critical mineral industry partners, and collaborators at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the following areas:

1. Costs of US critical mineral dependence on foreign countries.
2. Effect of industrial policy on domestic investments in critical mineral mining, processing and recycling.

The successful candidate will develop a research agenda in one or both areas.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in economics, agricultural and resource economics, or a similar field prior to starting. Applications for candidates graduating in the Spring 2027 semester are welcome to apply. Excellent programming, data management, and written communication skills are essential. Demonstrated ability to work with applied theory is preferred. Experience with critical minerals is a plus.

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee UNITED STATES

Salary Range: Competitive salary plus full University benefits package.

The Baker School has research focal areas in environmental and energy policy, along with its instructional and public service missions. The Baker School’s Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy (CETEP) combines sound science, rigorous economics, and thoughtful policy to address natural resource use and environmental challenges facing the state of Tennessee, the U.S., and the world. CETEP is an interdisciplinary network of joint faculty, faculty fellows and affiliates, research associates, and post-doctoral researchers. The Baker School’s research network extends to industry, government, the nonprofit sector, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The successful candidate will join a cohort of postdoctoral researchers working on environmental and energy challenges.

To apply, please submit the following items with your application: a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, a research paper, and three recommendation letters. Letters of recommendation may be submitted with your application or directly sent from the reference to the Hiring Manager, Charles Sims, at cbsims@utk.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Successful candidates are expected to start a 24-month appointment in the Summer/Fall of 2026 (exact start date negotiable). Questions regarding the position can be directed to Prof. Charles Sims by email (cbsims@utk.edu).