Main outputs

Up to now, our research team has published more than 70 papers in peer-reviewed academic journals, of which more than 50 papers are published in SSCI/SCI indexed journals, such as Energy Economics, Annals of Operations Research, and 6 papers were rated as Hot Papers or Highly Cited Papers by the ESI database. At the same time, in the past two years, we have submitted two consulting reports to the central government and received positive evaluation. In addition, our research outputs have won some high-level academic prizes from Ministry of Education of China, or Hunan province.

Performance review in the past three years

Since the foundation of our research center in 2014, with the strong support of our university and business school, we have made significant progress in lots of key areas, such as scientific research, decision-making consultation, talent cultivation and research platform development:

(1) As for the scientific research, we have obtained lots of national and provincial grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Social Science Fund, Ministry of Education, etc., and published more than 30 papers in international high-level journals, including Energy Economics, Energy Policy, Applied Energy, Annals of Operations Research, Empirical Economics. 6 papers were rated as Hot Papers or Highly Cited Papers by the ESI database. In particular, the research output "Crude oil price forecasting methods, risk management techniques and applications" won the Second prize of science and technology progress by Ministry of Education in 2014, and research output "Oil market risk management: Models and applications" won the First prize of social science excellent output by Hunan province. In addition, Professor Yue-Jun Zhang organized two special issues as the guest editor for International Journal of Global Energy Issues, with the theme “Crude Oil Prices: An International Perspective”, in 2015.

(2) With regard to the consultation for decision-making of central government, we have submitted several policy reports to the central government and received positive instructions from the high-level leaders. Meanwhile, our policy suggestions were adopted by some key documents of the government, such as the regulations for carbon trading market construction in China.

(3) As for the professional talent cultivation, our team have achieved significant breakthroughs in recent years. Specifically, Professor Yue-Jun Zhang has received many academic funds or awards, such as the Young Top Talent of National High-level Personnel Special Support Program in 2014 and the Young Scholars of Cheung Kong Scholars Program in 2016. Professor Zhao Liu got promoted to the full professor in 2016. Meanwhile, most PhD candidates and master students in our team published academic papers in international well-known journals such as Energy Economics, Energy Policy, Applied Energy. Besides, several students received the national scholarships and financial support of studying abroad.

(4) As for the research platform development, we insist the combined concepts of "going out" and "coming in" for academic exchange. In recent years, Professor Yue-Jun Zhang has organized many nation-wide academic conferences, such as "China Association for the 297th Young Scientists Forum", "Second China economic forum on energy and climate", "Third China economic forum on energy and climate". Meanwhile, we have invited many international well-known experts from other countries to give lectures, such as the professors with Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Ottawa University of Canada, etc., and we have also invited many talents for talk from China’s high-level universities, such as Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University. In addition, our team members have actively participated in international academic exchanges. For example, we went to Laurence Berkeley National Laboratory to work as visiting scholars, and participated in the 2015 International Energy Conference (ICAE2015) in Abu Dhabi, the Eighth China-Japan Joint Symposium on sustainable management of cities and regions in Kumamoto University in Japan, the 2014 Singapore-China Energy Forum in National University of Singapore.

Research projects and activities

(1) Selected research projects
In recent years, we have obtained a number of key research grants from National Natural Science Foundation, National Social Science Fund, Ministry of Education, etc., and some of them are listed as follows.

[1] Models and Applications of the Complex System of International Oil Prices. National High-level Talent Special Support Program, Young Top Talent Program. 2016-2018. Project leader: Yue-Jun Zhang.

[2] Oil Finance and Carbon Finance System Modeling. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Excellent Youth Project. 2014-2016. Project leader: Yue-Jun Zhang.

[3] The Market Mechanisms and Policy of Carbon Quota Trading. National Natural Science Foundation of China, General Project. 2013-2016. Project leader: Yue-Jun Zhang.

[4] Effectiveness of Energy Rebound Effect and Energy Efficiency Improvement Policy in Transportation Industry. National Social Science Fund of China, General Project. 2016-2019. Project leader: Zhao Liu.

[5] Mechanism and Information Intervention Simulation of Interactive Circulation of Emotional Infection. Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education, Planning Project. 2015-2017. Project leader: Zhao Liu.

(2) Recent main exchange activities
[1] Prof. Yue-Jun Zhang goes to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory(USA) as a visiting scholar.

[2] Ms. Ting Yao goes to the University of Kansas as a visiting PhD candidate.

[3] Ms. Ya-Fang Sun and Ms. Yan-Lin Jin attended "The first China Energy and Environmental Economics Scholar Forum" in Xiamen University and made presentations in May 2017.

(3) Full-time Postdoc recruitment

[1]Research directions

    Direction 1: Crude oil finance based on big data

    Direction 2: Socioeconomic impact of carbon emissions trading

[2]Recruitment requirements

    Have a doctor degree, or will successfully complete the PhD dissertation defense and obtain a doctorate recently , under the age of 35;

    Have professional background in energy, environment, economics, system engineering, computer and so on;

    enjoy academic research, work actively, easygoing personality, good at cooperation;

    Give priority to the applicants who can check in by the end of Sept. 2017.

[3]Benefits

    Detailed terms of benefits can be found from our university Postdoc Division and business school; meanwhile, we will provide extra scientific subsidies based on the performance. Potential applicants please send your resume, representative papers and relevant outputs to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and add the email subject "Postdoc application".