Postdoctoral Research Associate in Princeton, New Jersey at Princeton University

Post-Doctoral Researcher: Blockchain-Enabled Virtual Chain-of-Custody Systems for Clean Molecule Markets

The Energy Systems Analysis Group at Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment is seeking an outstanding researcher for a full-time Post-Doctoral or more senior Researcher position. The appointment is expected to begin in Fall 2026, or as soon as practicable thereafter. The Andlinger Center is focused on resolving critical challenges to assuring a secure, resilient, and sustainable energy and environmental future.

The post-doctoral researcher will report to Chris Greig and collaborate with researchers across engineering, computer science, and operations research. The successful candidate will contribute to an applied research project examining whether blockchain-enabled tokenization of low-carbon attributes can support credible and scalable virtual chain-of-custody systems—and thereby improve the bankability of industrial decarbonization projects.

The research will develop and evaluate a system architecture that combines distributed-ledger technology with measurement, reporting and verification, mass-balance accounting, and third-party certification. The initial use case will examine low-carbon ethylene and polyethylene value chains, in which physical materials may be commingled while verified environmental attributes are transferred digitally from producers to downstream manufacturers and brand owners. The researcher will compare conventional undifferentiated commodity sales, bilateral green-premium contracts, and token-based aggregation of dispersed downstream willingness to pay. Analysis will consider the implications for revenue visibility, risk allocation, financing costs, debt capacity, and final investment decisions for capital-intensive projects, including a large-scale steam-cracker retrofit.

Research activities are expected to include:

• Designing a conceptual or prototype blockchain-based virtual chain-of-custody and token-transfer architecture.

• Developing rules for attribute definition, measurement, allocation, retirement, and claims, with reference to relevant mass-balance certification systems and Scope 3 greenhouse-gas accounting.

• Modelling chemical value-chain flows and comparing alternative commercial and contracting structures.

• Undertaking techno-economic and project-finance analysis to test how alternative demand-aggregation mechanisms affect project bankability.

• Conducting interviews and workshops with chemical producers, downstream manufacturers, brand owners, financial institutions, certification bodies, and technology providers.

• Preparing peer-reviewed papers, industry-facing reports, workshop materials, and presentations.

Required qualifications

• PhD in engineering, operations research, computer science, or another relevant discipline.

• Strong quantitative research, data-analysis, and modelling skills.

• Demonstrated expertise in blockchain or distributed-ledger systems and at least one of the following additional areas: smart contracts or tokenization; life-cycle or greenhouse-gas accounting; measurement, reporting and verification; techno-economic or project-finance modelling; industrial supply chains or market design.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work across disciplinary and professional boundaries.

Desired qualifications

• Research or professional experience in chemicals, polymers, energy, industrial decarbonization, or sustainability markets.

• Familiarity with mass-balance chain-of-custody standards, environmental-attribute markets, GHG Protocol Scope 3 accounting, or related certification systems.

• Experience conducting stakeholder interviews, workshops, or interdisciplinary applied research.

• A strong publication record or evidence of the ability to produce high-quality academic and industry-facing outputs.

Application materials

• Cover letter describing the candidate’s interest in the project and relevant experience.

• Curriculum vitae.

• Two publications or writing samples.

• Contact details for two references; recommendation letters may be requested from shortlisted candidates.

The Andlinger Center is especially interested in candidates who will contribute to the excellence of the academic community and diversity of the curriculum, broadly defined. The term of appointment is based on rank. Positions at the postdoctoral rank are for one year with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding; those hired at more senior ranks may have multi-year appointments. The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University. This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing; other visa sponsorships (including H-1B visas not requiring consular processing) may be available, as appropriate.