Faculty Position(s) at the Energy Department of the Cyprus Institute (ref. no. CYI_FPE_24_07)

Closing Date: 06/06/2024

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a European non-profit science and technology oriented educational and research institution based in Cyprus and led by an acclaimed Board of Trustees. The Institute’s research agenda is pursued at its five Research Centers: The Energy Environment Water Research Centre (EEWRC), the Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC), the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC), the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) and the Science and Technology Driven Policy and Innovation Research Center (STeDI-RC). Considerable cross-center interaction is a characteristic of the Institute’s culture.

The Cyprus Institute invites applications for highly motivated and qualified faculty members at the ranks of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor to advance the research and teaching agenda of CyI’s Energy Department, which belongs to the Energy Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC). The Department studies the energy transition in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East and includes research groups in Advanced Renewable Energy Systems, Energy Planning and Analysis, and Sustainable Built Environment. It has secured substantial funding from European Union and national resources and plans to expand towards consolidating its leading position in Energy Research in Cyprus and the region.

The research agenda of successful candidate(s) is expected to focus on one or more of the following topics:

1. The development and utilization of novel technologies and processes for harnessing energy from Renewable Energy Sources (RES), storing and efficiently utilizing them; solar energy or other modalities well suited to the climatological conditions of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are of primary concern.
2. Harnessing and storing solar energy, and subsequent utilization in process heat applications in general, and in seawater desalination production in particular.
3. Renewable Energy Systems development including hybridization and polygeneration systems, as well as advanced smart grid/microgrid systems for distributed generation suitable for “energy Islands”. 
4. Development of advanced energy conservation technologies and tools aiming to minimize the energy consumption of buildings and promote energy flexibility among grid-interactive buildings to contribute to the decarbonization of the built environment. 
5. Development, optimization and implementation of advanced heat mitigation and adaptation technologies for cities and neighborhoods aiming to counterbalance the impact of urban overheating, improve global environmental quality, and mitigate energy vulnerability in the urban built environment. 

Priority will be given to candidates who will have relevant experience and will be able to use or expand the existing energy research infrastructure of CyI (see https://www.cyi.ac.cy/index.php/eewrc/about-the-center/research-infrastructures.html) in advancing the Energy Department’s research agenda.

The successful candidate will work in Cyprus and will be offered a tenure or tenure-track position. Full Professors are offered a tenured position; Assistant Professors have a tenure-track position; Associate Professors may be offered a tenure-track or a tenured position. An internationally competitive remuneration package will be offered, which is commensurate with the level of experience of the successful candidate.

Applicants should specify for which rank they want to be considered.

Responsibilities/activities to be involved in:

1. Helps to shape the Energy Department’s research agenda by developing and implementing strategies appropriate to the Center’s missions and objectives,
2. Develops a world-class research program in the stated fields of study and in accordance with the mission and developmental plan of the Institute and EEWRC,
3. Maximally utilizes the substantial resources and research facilities of the Institute in advancing the aforementioned research agenda, 
4. Designs, constructs and operates facilities appropriate to the research lines described above,
5. Raises financial and other resources for the needs of the Energy Research Department from national and international sources,
6. Contributes to the educational mission of the CyI, including the development of new doctoral and master’s programs and the improvement of existing ones.
7. Initiates and sustains high-level contacts with leading institutions throughout the world that conduct research in areas related to their respective fields.
8. Contributes to the technological and commercial maturity and the improvement of the Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of the research infrastructures and the scientific concepts described above.

Required Qualifications

1. PhD Degree in a relevant field of Engineering, such as Mechanical, Electrical, Process, Chemical or Civil Engineering, or Sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry or Environmental Science.
2. Proven research record of international standing.
3. Supervising and postgraduate training record appropriate for the rank they are applying for.
4. Experience in mentoring and teaching graduate students depending on the rank they are applying for (a strict requirement for the Associate Professor and Professor rank).
5. A minimum of three years of post-doctoral research experience or equivalent in relevant fields of research is required for the rank of Assistant Professor; for the ranks of Associate Professor and Professor, international norms typical for Research Universities apply with a minimum requirement of five and seven years of relevant experience respectively.
6. Experience in research related to the research topics of EEWRC.
7. Excellent knowledge of the English language, both verbal and writing.
8. Demonstrated development ability, outstanding organizational, analytical, problem solving and communication skills.
9. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt to a multicultural/multinational environment.
10. Excellent scientific management skills, depending on the rank they are applying for.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record and ability, as appropriate for the position rank, to model energy components, systems and integrated processes (e.g. renewable-energy driven desalination or thermal processes in the built environment).

Application

For full consideration, interested applicants should process their application at The Cyprus Institute Exelsys Platform (https://bit.ly/3HDLRTw) based on the instructions given. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae including a short letter of interest, vision statement, list of publications and a list of five (5) referees (including contact information) (all documentation should be in English and in PDF Format). For further information, please contact Prof Theodoros Zachariadis (t.zachariadis@cyi.ac.cy). Please note that applications which do not fulfill the required qualifications and do not follow the announcement’s guidelines will not be considered. 

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. 

The Cyprus Institute is an Equal Opportunities Employer certified from the Cypriot Ministry of Labor and also an HRS4R accredited Institution that adheres to the European Commission’s “Charter & Code” principles for recruitment and selection. 

Contact person: Prof Theodoros Zachariadis

Reference number: CYI_FPE_24_07