Research Fellow - Built Environment

Do you enjoy solving complex, real-world problems at the intersection of buildings, energy, and climate? Do you like working with data, field research, and multidisciplinary teams to turn evidence into impact? If yes, we invite you to join a growing, mission-driven team working on some of India’s most pressing building energy and heat challenges.

Organisation Overview

RMI Energy Solutions India Foundation (“RMI India Foundation”)’s mission is to support the transformation of India’s economy into a clean, thriving, and inclusive energy future. This mission aligns with the country’s bold ambition to achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2070. We aim to drive impact on the ground through deep research and rigorous analysis, which informs the development of sustainable clean energy policies and programmes across the country to enhance the lives and livelihoods of all Indians. Our ongoing work includes national and state-level policy support, technical assistance, and deployment of regional pilots and implementation projects.

The Built Environment programme works to accelerate the transition to thermally comfortable, affordable, and low-carbon residential buildings. The work combines applied research, pilot demonstrations, and programme implementation to generate actionable evidence for policy and market transformation.

Position Overview:

RMI India Foundation is seeking a Research Fellow to support our work in transforming India’s building sector. This role will focus on accelerating the deployment of thermally comfortable, affordable, net zero-carbon buildings in India. This entails the whole system of solutions— embodied carbon, passive design, super-efficient equipment, renewable energy, and grid integration supported with cross-cutting levers around business models, behaviour change and skill enhancement. The work will involve a range of on-the-ground implementation efforts, field pilot delivery, stakeholder coordination, thought leadership, techno-economic analysis, and demonstration projects across the building sector.

As a research fellow/associate, you will use your quantitative, technical, and analytical abilities to conduct compelling research and assessment around crucial energy issues in the built environment. You will be hands-on contributor responsible for supporting/leading field project implementation, resolving practical execution challenges, and working closely with colleagues under the direction of more senior staff to deliver practical solutions for our research questions. You will develop expertise in the content area of your specific programme within the organisation and will provide subject-matter support on that topic to other members of the organisation.

The Research Fellow will be deputed on-site at Palava City to lead the deployment, monitoring reporting of various pilots multiple focus areas, including:

• Residential building end-use energy studies (UrjaAnk)
• Urban heat and microclimate research
• Renewable energy integration in residential buildings
• Super-efficient air conditioning and cooling technology pilots

You will work independently on defined tasks while collaborating closely with senior staff and cross-functional teams to deliver practical, policy-relevant insights. This role requires someone who enjoys being on the ground, working closely with residents, site teams, vendors, and technical partners, and taking ownership for getting pilots implemented effectively and on time.

Core Responsibilities

• Support field-based research through on-site measurement of residential energy use, appliance-level loads, indoor thermal conditions, and outdoor microclimate parameters.
• Support installation, calibration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of energy and environmental sensors and sub-metering systems.
• Assist in monitoring and evaluation of rooftop and distributed renewable energy systems.
• Support pilot studies assessing performance of super-efficient air conditioners and cooling technologies.
• Locate, clean, validate, and manage datasets to ensure continuity, quality, and reliability.
• Conduct first-level exploratory and quantitative analysis to identify trends, anomalies, and correlations.
• Maintain structured data logs, metadata, and field documentation.
• Coordinate with site operations, residents, vendors, and technical partners to enable smooth on-site execution.
• Track project milestones, flag risks, and support timely resolution of on-ground issues.
• Support preparation of presentations, briefs, and written outputs including reports and insight notes.
• Engage with external experts, consultants, and partners as required.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in engineering, architecture, urban planning, environmental science, building science, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of one or more of the following areas: residential building energy analysis, thermal comfort and heat stress, passive cooling, renewable energy systems, super-efficient cooling technologies, or urban climate.
• Experience working on energy efficiency delivery and demonstration programmes, project engineering, or applied research initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage workplans, coordinate multiple field activities, follow through on implementation issues, and deliver against project timelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field with a focus on energy, sustainability, buildings, or climate is strongly preferred.
• Min. 5 years of experience in field-based research, building performance evaluation, energy audits, measurement and verification, or sustainability programmes.
• Exposure to renewable energy integration, efficient cooling technologies, or urban heat studies.
• Strong quantitative skills with experience using Excel; exposure to Python, R, GIS, or energy modelling tools is a plus.
• Experience contributing to reports, technical notes, or research publications.
• Experience engaging with multiple stakeholders, including residents, vendors, and implementation partners.
• Certification or professional qualification such as Certified Energy Manager, Certified Energy Auditor, or a similar engineering credential is preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to be site-deputed at Palava City and work across seasons.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Willingness to travel locally as required for field activities. A strong team player with excellent interpersonal/collaborative skills with staff and counterparts at all organisational levels and with external partners

Location

The location for this profile is Palava, Mumbai.

Benefits

• Competitive salary determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role.
• We offer a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Medical insurance allowance
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave

Contract Terms

Full-time position with initial one-year contract, renewable based on performance. We invite candidates with a variety of skill sets, educational and work backgrounds to apply.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a cover letter as an initial step.