Ezra Systems Scholars Research Associates in Systems Science and Engineering

Research Associates in Systems Science and Engineering

The successful candidate will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team of Cornell Systems Engineering in areas such as systems thinking, enterprise, and management/leadership; human-in-the-loop smart systems; transportation systems; energy systems; and urban infrastructure & technology systems. A graduate field cutting across multiple disciplines at Cornell University, Cornell Systems Engineering is a cross- and trans-disciplinary research and education program that takes innovative systems approaches to meeting the grand systems challenges that civilization is facing in areas such as physical and social infrastructure, transportation, energy, environmental quality, food, health care, and international peace, etc. The program combines social scientists with researchers in science and engineering. Our research seeks to combine fundamental theoretical investigations with serious applications including the modeling and development of efficient systems for extracting and processing information, making decision, and supporting policy/regulation. For the research to be carried out, we aim at developing fundamental social and natural science, mathematical and probabilistic models, hybrid numerical approaches, computational algorithms, and integrated software platforms for modeling and managing the interactions among components of social-technical systems. Expertise in several of the methodologies AND application areas below is desired.

Methodologies of interest

• Graph and network theory
• Agent-based simulation
• Data science
• Advanced computing
• Decision science
• Optimization
• Cognitive science
• Knowledge representation

Application areas of interest

Cyber-Human-Physical Systems (e.g., human-system interaction, human-centered design)

This Ezra Systems Research Associate track invites researchers to join Cornell Systems Engineering in advancing the state of the art of Systems Science and Systems Engineering by characterizing and modeling human behavior and human-system interaction in the context of the analysis and design of complex dynamic networks of systems that interact with humans to tackle key global societal challenges. Natural and social resources have become increasingly stressed, posing tremendous systems challenges that civilization must confront such as global climate change and water-food-energy security, interdependent infrastructure systems and sustainability in mega-cities, energy security and smart grid. Among the most important and often ignored challenges in the analysis and design of Cyber-Human-Physical Systems (CHPS) are those related to human behavior and the interaction of humans with the components of the CHPS. Study areas include, but are not limited to human behavior (e.g., response to and adoption of disruptive technology); human-system interaction; human-centered design (e.g., we need new ways to elicit and capture human needs and preferences that are more effective than what we have today). We welcome applicants with background and interests in systems approaches (system thinking, system modeling & analysis, system architecting & design, enterprise & society) built upon the theoretical foundations of scientific pillars such as behavior science, network science, decision science and data science. Experience in holistic, systematic thinking, characterization of complex systems by the separation of problem formulation from solution concepts, systems modeling and analysis emphasizing the integration of models from different disciplines and operating at different time and spatial scales, and system architecting and design that synthesizes a system to satisfy a selected set of needs of its stakeholders that follows an iterative path from needs to goals to solution-neutral then solution-specific functions is desirable.

Smart, Connected, and Healthy Communities--Smart integrative energy systems

The Ezra Systems Research Associate on the track of smart integrative energy systems will carry out and participate the research efforts of developing systems integration, analysis, design, control and/or optimization models and algorithms for smart energy systems to enable smart and healthy communities. We welcome applicants with background and interests in various energy systems and technologies, which include but are not limited to, renewable energy sources, electrical power systems, battery and energy storage systems, heating, carbon capture and utilization, electrification of transportation, coupling of energy-transportation and/or energy-water systems, environment/health impacts, etc. Individuals with research experience in decision-making under uncertainty and/or life cycle analysis/optimization are particularly encouraged to apply.

Smart, Connected, and Healthy Communities--Smart mobility and sustainable transportation

The Ezra Systems Research Associate of this smart mobility and transportation systems track will carry out and participate the research efforts of developing systems integration, analysis, design, control and/or optimization models and algorithms for smart mobility/transportation systems to enable smart and healthy communities. We welcome applicants with background and interests in various transportation systems, novel mobility service and business models, enabling technologies, integration of transportation with energy, environment and public health, and systems innovation in policy and management.  Experience in transportation and land use modeling, human-systems interactions, networks science, information, decision and complex networks, dynamic data driven application systems, science of information computation and fusion, systems and software, or modeling multi-layer networks is desirable. An appetite for interdisciplinary collaboration is required, and active participation in research projects and leading a group of highly motivated Ph.D. students is desired.

Urban Infrastructure and Technology Systems, Urban Analytics, Urban Systematics

This Ezra Systems Research Associate track invites applications from outstanding researchers in the areas of infrastructure and technology systems for mathematical/computational modeling and control theory for life-cycle management optimization and policy of smart and sustainable infrastructure and environment systems (technology, system informatics/analytics, and decision science). The successful candidate will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team of SYSEN on life cycle infrastructure asset planning, management, and policy optimization for improved sustainability and resilience. We aim to develop mathematical and probabilistic models, hybrid numerical approaches, computational algorithms, and integrated software platforms for modeling and managing the interactions among urban infrastructure and environment networks. This appointment is an opportunity for a researcher with proven ability in developing complex systems analytics models, optimization methods, and computational tools for real-world problems in urban infrastructures. Experience in infrastructure systems, urban technology, networks science, information, decision and complex networks, computational and infrastructure intelligence, revenue and finance, complex systems architectural design framework combined with optimization models, or modeling multi-layer infrastructure networks is desirable.

Systems Thinking, Enterprise, and Management/Leadership

This Ezra Systems Research Associate track invites applications from outstanding researchers in the areas of Systems Thinking, Enterprise, and Management/Leadership. Systems Thinking is the fundamental tool of the systems scientist or engineer and consists in a problem-solving methodology based on holistic, systematic thinking, and characterized by the separation of problem formulation from solution concepts, of solution-neutral intent from solution-specific function, and of function from form.  Systems modeling and analysis emphasizes the integration of models from different disciplines and operating at different time and spatial scales, and the analysis of the performance, cost/schedule and risk aspects of the system during its entire lifecycle, from cradle (conceptual development) to grave (disposal). This can be followed by system architecting and design is the creative process of synthesizing a system to satisfy a selected set of needs of its stakeholders that follows an iterative path from needs to goals to solution-neutral then solution-specific functions to components that can perform those functions. Enterprise and society through efficient and effective management and leadership enable systems thinkers to go from promising system designs to successful products, services and companies that have a real, broad and positive impact on society.