Location: University of Victoria (hybrid)
Reports to: Dr. Katya Rhodes
Salary: $70,000 (plus 10% benefits in the form of employer contributions)
Deadline for application: 30 June 2025

Position Summary

The Zero-Emissions Sustainability Team led by Dr. Katya Rhodes at the University of Victoria and the Impact Investing Hub led by Dr. Basma Majerbi are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join an interdisciplinary research team conducting climate and energy transition policy and transition finance research in Western Canada, on a one year term starting September 2025.

The position will focus on the design, implementation, and analysis of a survey of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), examining their perceptions, decision-making processes and operational realities in relation to the energy transition. The survey will investigate barriers and enablers for SME decarbonization, the adoption of clean energy technologies, and engagement with emerging climate and transition finance instruments. This work sits at the intersection of climate policy, business strategy, and sustainable finance.

Co-supervised by experts in climate and energy policy and sustainable business and finance, the postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for leading the research, which aims to provide critical insight into how SMEs navigate uncertainty, assess transition-related financial risks and opportunities, and respond to evolving climate- and transition-related regulation and policy. The role involves close attention to sector-specific constraints, capital access, and innovation dynamics, with the aim of informing the design of policies and financial mechanisms that are both effective and equitable — especially in regions and sectors more dependent on fossil fuels. The successful candidate will contribute to a broader research agenda focused on aligning public policy, financial tools, and business capacity to accelerate a just and inclusive energy transition for the SME sector, which account for over 99% of all businesses in Canada.

The position is a fellowship with the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) initiative at the University of Victoria (UVic). The ACET postdoc will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of public policy, energy technology, business and finance, and community engaged research.

Key Responsibilities

  • Co-design a national business survey instrument focused on SME perspectives on decarbonization, climate risk, and transition finance
  • Collaborate with community, industry and policy partners to ensure the survey addresses real-world constraints, sectoral diversity, and financial realities of SMEs
  • Oversee survey fielding and logistics in collaboration with a professional survey firm, ensuring broad sectoral and regional representation
  • Analyze survey data using appropriate quantitative methods and contribute to interdisciplinary academic, policy and business-oriented outputs
  • Prepare policy briefs, practitioner reports, and peer-reviewed publications based on research findings to inform policy, financing programs, and business support mechanisms
  • Present findings in academic, policymaking, industry, and public engagement forums
    Qualifications:
  • PhD (or near completion) in public administration, policy studies, business economics, sociology, political science, or a related field
  • Experience with survey design, implementation, and quantitative analysis in applied policy or business contexts
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently while actively contributing to a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment
  • Proficiency in statistical software and data analysis methods relevant to business and policy research
  • Strong writing and communication skills, as demonstrated through academic publications, policy outputs and public presentations
  • Expertise in climate policy, SMEs business strategy and decision-making, sustainable finance or just transition framework



Accessibility and equity statements

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How to apply

Please send the following documents to Dr. Katya Rhodes at [email protected] and Dr. Basma Majerbi at [email protected] by 30 June, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST):

  • CV
  • Motivation letter (max 2 pages) with 3 names of potential references.