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Technology-to-Market Summer Scholar - Data Analysis to Drive Smart Farming: Capturing the Value of Carbon Optimization in Biofuel Feedstock Production

Data Analysis to Drive Smart Farming: Capturing the Value of Carbon Optimization in Biofuel Feedstock Production

Background


The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that funds creative, out-of-the-box, transformational energy technologies that are too early stage for private investment. ARPA-E programs provide top energy researchers with funding, technical assistance, and tech-to-market guidance to radically improve U.S. energy security, energy efficiency, and environmental well-being. The driving question behind all ARPA-E programs is “If it works, will it matter?

ARPA-E recruits summer scholars who have a unique combination of technical and business skills to assist in defining commercialization pathways for high-impact technology development programs. This internship opportunity offers experience in advancing the transition of cutting-edge energy technologies to market applications in a fast-paced environment.

Opportunity


Agriculture presents a pathway to atmospheric carbon drawdown that is potentially low cost and large scale; however, realizing this opportunity will require a clear understanding of production practices and how they interact with genetic and environmental variables. Acquiring this understanding today is a laborious and expensive process. Existing low-carbon fuel markets provide some insight regarding the revenue potential for farmers capable of quantifying the carbon flux associated with their production practices, but a much wider spectrum of market structures and business models exists both domestically and abroad.

One to two summer scholars will conduct (i) a meta-analysis of existing carbon and ecosystem services markets, including insight about their trajectory and expansion, and (ii) a technoeconomic analysis to define the optimal range of farm-level monitoring system costs and their revenue potentials under a range of market scenarios (to be informed by the meta-analysis). Scholars will have an opportunity to engage with ARPA-E’s network of subject-matter and industry experts, working with the ARPA-E Program Directors, technical team, and T2M Advisors, attend relevant conferences and workshops, and perform a deep dive into a rapidly growing field.

The ideal candidate(s) will have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. agricultural science/engineering, agronomy, economics, etc.), be in the midst of completing a graduate level degree, preferably M.S. or MBA, and have relevant work experience to include:

·       Experience with technoeconomic and/or lifecycle analysis in an academic environment or internship
·       Knowledge of carbon and ecosystem service market concepts and approaches
·       Knowledge of biofuel feedstock production practices and drivers of farm economics
·       Familiarity with trends relating to on-farm technologies and analytics
·       Candidates with experience in data mining, statistics and visualization will be strongly considered

Applicants should be prepared for deep immersion into the project and must be comfortable working independently. Job requirements include strong analytical, written and oral communication abilities.

Each selected scholar will be paid a weekly stipend and travel costs; length of stay can be negotiated, but typically ranges from 8-12 weeks. All positions will be based at ARPA-E’s headquarters in Washington, DC. This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens.

Highly motivated candidates should submit a CV, a cover letter, and two references at
https://arpa-e.energy.gov/jobs. Questions can be directed via email to ARPA-E-jobs@hq.doe.gov with the words “T2M Scholars” in the subject heading.