Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Forest Bioenergy, Environmental & Health Co-benefits

Virginia Tech | Department of Sustainable Biomaterials

Dr. Ching-Hsun Huang, Professor in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on a research project examining the environmental, health, and economic co-benefits of forest-based bioenergy in the Southern Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic region.

Appointment Terms: One-year appointment with the possibility of a second-year extension contingent on performance and funding availability; anticipated start date is June 2026, with flexibility to accommodate relocation and transition needs.

Project Overview: The postdoctoral researcher will work on an interdisciplinary project that develops an integrated, spatially explicit modeling framework to evaluate how forest-based bioenergy and sustainable forest utilization influence emissions, air quality, public health, and economic outcomes. The research is designed to support policy-relevant assessment of renewable energy and forest management strategies in the Southern Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic region. The project brings together forest inventory and utilization data, life-cycle assessment of bioenergy systems, air-quality and health-impact modeling, and economic valuation and scenario analysis to quantify environmental, health, and economic co-benefits under alternative policy and market conditions.

Primary Responsibilities: The postdoctoral researcher will lead and support data integration and modeling across forest, energy, air-quality, and health domains; conduct life-cycle emissions and scenario analyses; contribute to air-quality and health-impact modeling; support economic valuation and uncertainty analysis; co-author peer-reviewed journal manuscripts; and develop policy-relevant figures, maps, and technical summaries.

Qualifications: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in environmental economics, resource economics, forestry, environmental science, energy systems, public health, or a closely related field by the start date, and demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical skills, the ability to conduct independent and reproducible research, and experience with data analysis and modeling. Preferred qualifications include experience with life-cycle assessment, environmental or sustainability modeling, familiarity with air-quality or health-impact assessment approaches, programming experience in R, Python, MATLAB, or similar tools, and evidence of peer-reviewed publications.

Professional Development

The postdoctoral researcher will receive close mentorship in interdisciplinary research design, manuscript development, and grant-relevant modeling approaches. The position provides strong preparation for academic, government, or policy-focused research careers in sustainability, energy, and environmental health.

Application Deadline and How to Apply
Applications are due by April 3, 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit their application online through Virginia Tech’s PageUp system, uploading all required materials as a single PDF. The application package should include: (1) a cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) the names and contact information for three references. Applicants are also encouraged to include one or two representative publications or working papers, if available. Questions about the position or research fit may be directed to Dr. Huang at chinghuang@vt.edu.