Job Opportunity with MIT’s D-Lab and The Charcoal Project

MIT is pleased to announce the opening of a position working on its Harvest Fuel Initiative, a collaboration between The Charcoal Project and MIT’s D-Lab.

This is going to be big and fun and impactful!

Please refer to the recruitment website at MIT for application procedure.

Title: Charcoal Technology Specialist
Req Number: mit-00009065
Department: D-Lab
Location(s): Cambridge MA
FT/PT: Full Time
Employment / Payroll Category: Other Academic
Work Shift:

CHARCOAL TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, D-Lab Scale-Ups, to advance D-Lab‘s expertise in the areas of alternative biomass fuel production and clean cook stoves through applied research and field-base technology evaluations. Will also be responsible for providing technology support to Harvest Fuel Initiative charcoal enterprises by evaluating the technologies adopted and advising on design alterations to improve performance and optimize for production at large scale.

The Harvest Fuel Initiative was established by D-Lab in collaboration with The Charcoal Project (https://www.charcoalproject.org/) to enable the deployment of sustainable solid biomass fuels through appropriate technology and knowledge dissemination. The initiative provides seed funding and technical assistance to enterprises working on producing and commercializing alternative biomass fuels and clean cook stoves at the base of the pyramid.

REQUIREMENTS: a bachelor’s degree in engineering; two years of work or research experience in combustion, cook stove design, or emissions analysis; and proven analytical and project management skills. Experience working in a developing country is important. A master’s degree a in relevant area of expertise is preferred. MIT-00009065

Must be available to travel for field work up to 40% the time.

DURATION: This is a one year position with the possibility of renewal.

POSTED ON: 9/19/12

DETAILS ON THE POSITION:

D-Lab is an interdisciplinary program at MIT that is committed to using its
technological and educational resources to improve the lives of the 3 billion people
who live on less than $3 a day. Through academic offerings, research projects, and
fieldwork, D-Lab pursues low-cost and locally sustainable solutions in agriculture,
water and sanitation, health, energy, and education.

The D-Lab Scale-Ups Program was launched in 2011 to provide an acceleration
platform for innovators and entrepreneurs working to bring development technologies
to market and to scale. The program provides the seed funding to catalyze ventures
and supports teams with skill building and mentoring resources, as well as partnership
cultivation opportunities. D-Lab will capture learning from the projects and will
progressively build on the networks and ecosystems formed around them.

The Harvest Fuel Initiative was established by D-Lab in collaboration with The
Charcoal Project (https://www.charcoalproject.org/) to enable the deployment of
sustainable solid biomass fuels through appropriate technology and knowledge
dissemination. The initiative will provide seed funding and technical assistance to local
enterprises working on producing and commercializing alternative biomass fuels and
clean cookstoves at the base of the pyramid.

Overview Statement:
The Technology Specialist will advance D-Lab’s expertise in the areas of alternative
biomass fuel production and clean cookstoves through applied research and field-base
technology evaluations. S/he will also be responsible for providing technology support
to “Harvest Fuel Initiative” by evaluating the technologies adopted by the enterprises
and advising on design alterations to improve performance and optimize for scale.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
• Develop D-Lab expertise in the areas of feedstock selection, carbonization,
briquetting, combustion (cook stoves) and quality testing. Research appropriate
technology solutions, perform field and lab-based technology testing and
investigate design improvements for optimized charcoal recipes, kilns, briquettes
presses and stoves.
• Provide technology support to a defined number of charcoal enterprises members
of the “Harvest Fuel Initiative” network in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast
Asia. Perform field-based technology diagnosis and provide technical support for
technology trouble-shooting, performance optimization and production scale-up
strategies.
• Evaluate the potential environmental and economic implications of technology
scale-up and research design improvement to palliate to any possible negative
impacts.
• Secure and manage resources for the project. Negotiate access to relevant labs and
equipment at MIT and partner institutions, hire and supervise UROP students.
• Capture and document knowledge from field research. Produce ready-to-use
resources for charcoal enterprises to select and operate appropriate technology
solutions in consideration of their scale and local constraints.
• Participate in the design and deployment of Technology Evaluation (TechEval)
projects related to charcoal production or cook stoves.

Supervision Received:
The Project Coordinator will report to the D-Lab Scale-Ups Program Director.

Supervision Exercised:

None

Qualifications and Education:
• Bachelor degree in engineering and Master or PhD degree in relevant area of
expertise.
• Working Knowledge of combustion, cook stove design and emissions analysis.
• Working knowledge of environmental science.
• Experience providing technological mentoring and support.
• Experience working in a developing countries.
• Proven analytical and project management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Availability to travel for field work up to a minimum of 40% of his/her time.
• Excellent organizational skills; proven ability to meet deadlines in a high-paced
environment.
• Ability to work independently and to take initiative.
• Flexibility, a cheerful attitude and a good sense of humor are critical.