Researcher in land use policies

The Integrated Biosphere Futures (IBF) Research Group, part of the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) Program, is offering an opportunity for an experienced climate policy analyst who will work on quantitative assessment of policies for the land use sector, and related research.

The role

The IBF research group has for many years been part of a multi-sectorial team informing scientists and policy makers on developments in the field of climate policies (including related areas such as energy, land use and international transport) on a global scale. This is to be done by tracking climate action and progress towards targets, and by providing analysis on global climate change mitigation using state-of-the art quantitative tools. This approach relies on conducting a thorough review of planned and implemented policies by countries using existing modeling frameworks. It aims to identify both the progress made towards achieving their targets and the gaps between planned actions and the internationally established targets. The findings from this analysis can be documented in scientific publications and policy briefs.

Currently, IIASA is looking for a policy analyst with experience in quantitative modeling to join the IBF research group and to contribute to climate policy analysis from the policy text to quantitative impact assessment. The successful candidate will join the existing team and contribute to ongoing projects that track national climate targets. Their work will include providing up-to-date assessments of progress on climate change mitigation, particularly in relation to the second and third rounds of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) covering actions through 2035. This will involve evaluating increases in ambition, analyzing how these efforts align with the policies and projections in the Biennial Transparency Reports under the Paris Agreement, and reviewing progress made by subnational and non-state actors worldwide. The candidate will also support other related projects as needed.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Document current mitigation policies as being implemented in countries around the world and jointly develop GHG projections on the basis of such policies utilizing inhouse modeling tools.
• Analyze the alignment between historical data, mitigation measures, and projections to strengthen accounting at various levels, in accordance with the UNFCCC guidelines (ETF) and IPCC methodologies.
• Develop databases on historical GHG data, planned, adopted, and implemented policies, mitigation projections, and NDC targets for the AFOLU sector.
• Manage data exchange and communication with partners and stakeholders engaged within ongoing projects.
• Lead and contribute to project deliverables, reports and stakeholder communications.
• Publish relevant results in peer-reviewed journals and participate in scientific conferences and workshops.

Qualifications

Appointment terms

The successful candidate should be available to take up the position by December 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. We offer an initial full-time, two-year employment contract with the possibility for extension thereafter.

Eligible applicants wishing to work part-time hours may be considered.

The place of work is IIASA in Laxenburg, near Vienna Austria (home office options available).

The successful candidate will be appointed as R1 (researcher) or R2 (research scholar) in accordance with the IIASA profiles for research careers.

We offer

EUR 41,020.00 for researchers.

EUR 53,451.00 for research scholars

(Salaries quoted are subject to deductions for health insurance and / or social security)

IIASA salaries are

Additional benefits

Further details here.