Member of Technical Staff - Energy and Behavior Scientist

Based in Cambridge, MA, the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) is an applied research and development laboratory dedicated to the commercialization of clean energy technologies. CSE engages in collaborative research and development with private companies, government entities, and academic institutions, performing research that broadly benefits firms, industries, and society.

Our partnerships take a wide variety of forms, including confidential co-development programs, third-party technology validation, technology commercialization assistance for early-stage cleantech companies, and targeted research initiatives to promote the profitability and technical leadership of US industry. (See case studies for examples of each.)

Founded in 2008 and supported by the Massachusetts state government, the CSE is part of an international research network spearheaded by Germany's Fraunhofer Society, Europe's largest contract R&D organization. In Germany, the Fraunhofer CSE is closely partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) in Stuttgart.

Position Overview:

The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy has an active research program in Energy Management and Behavior. An interdisciplinary team works at the intersection of people and technology to develop, evaluate, and demonstrate new and emerging energy-saving technologies and practices and energy efficiency. In particular, the Center works extensively in the area of home energy management technologies, such as smart thermostats, home energy displays, and other energy feedback approaches. 

We are looking for an Experimental Psychologist to lead Fraunhofer CSE's applied behavioral research. You will work with our interdisciplinary team to evaluate the behavioral dimensions of energy-saving technologies and practices. Our projects include both field experiments and structured laboratory experiments. This is truly a special opportunity for a experimental psychologist with a passion for energy efficiency!  

Responsibilities:

• Lead industry and government research projects to evaluate how people interact with and accept novel building systems and controls 
• Lead the development of the behavioral component of government and industry proposals
• Design and implement rigorously designed behavioral field experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions and building control/automation technologies
• Work with the Director of Building Energy Technologies to develop new projects
• Present and publish research project findings 

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as Experimental Psychology, Social or Cognitive Psychology, or Behavioral Science
• Experience designing experiments, collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data
• Experience with market research methods, such as focus groups, surveys, and interviews
• Strong background in understanding how people make decisions and techniques to influence behavior
• Strong interest in and, ideally, a proven track record of accomplishment working with interdisciplinary teams
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced work environment on multiple projects at a time and to quickly develop solutions for a diverse range of projects and clients
• Experience working with utilities preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills  

To Apply:

Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to submit your cover letter and resume with "Member of Technical Staff - Energy and Behavior Scientist" in the subject line.