Adaptive Agricultural and Environmental Decision-making Postdoc at UC Davis

Resilience Science; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in California is seeking a post-doctoral fellow to advance decision-making in adaptive agriculture and environmental policies. The role involves analyzing rangeland restoration programs, mentoring graduate students, and contributing to various research projects. Applicants should have a PhD and a strong background in survey design and data analysis. The position offers a two-year contract with potential for renewal.

Qualifications

• Recent recipient of a doctoral degree.
• Demonstrated interest in agricultural and environmental decision-making.
• Trained in expert elicitation protocols.

Responsibilities

• Support a USDA funded project analyzing rangeland restoration programs.
• Design and conduct surveys of California ranchers.
• Participate in projects on sustainable agriculture and climate change.

Skills

Survey design

Quantitative statistical analysis

Network analysis

Expert elicitation

Interpersonal skills

Education

PhD in relevant discipline

Job description

Overview

UC Davis Post-Doctoral Position in Adaptive Agricultural and Environmental Decision-making with Mark Lubell.

The UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy seeks to fill one post-doctoral position in Adaptive Agricultural and Environmental Decision-making. The post-doctoral position will be for two years residence with possible third year renewal, starting Fall 2011 or earlier. The post-doctoral fellow will support a USDA funded project analyzing local rangeland restoration programs and individual factors that encourage ranchers to engage in adaptive rangeland management. The project involves analyzing data from structured survey of California ranchers, with possible addition of comparative data from Wyoming. The project also involves designing and expert elicitation or mental models process to map the decision-making process of ranchers in conjunction with an agro-ecological field experiment in adaptive rangeland management. The study will advance basic science in adaptive decision-making and coupled social-ecological systems. The project is being conducted by an interdisciplinary team including natural and social scientists. More information about the rangeland management project can be found here: UC Davis Adaptive Rangeland Management Project.

The post-doctoral fellow will be a member of Dr. Mark Lubell’s Center for Environmental Policy and Behavior and housed in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy. In addition to the rangeland restoration project, the post-doc will have opportunities to participate in other projects on sustainable agriculture, water management, and climate change; mentor graduate students, teach classes, develop new research funding; and generally support an active research group.

Applicants should be recent recipients of a doctoral degree, with demonstrated interest and publication ability in agricultural and environmental decision-making and policy. Applicants are required to have a background in survey design and analysis, social science theory, and strong skills in quantitative statistical and network analysis. Applicants should also be trained in the design and analysis of expert elicitation protocols such as semantic networks, multi-criteria decision making, mental models, learning models, decision-making under uncertainty, and risk perception. The project requires strong interpersonal and language skills to interact directly with agricultural communities and stakeholders. Experience with rangeland management is preferred but not required. The position is open with respect to academic discipline, and could include behavioral decision theory, economics, political science, sociology, or other appropriate social science training.

Please notify Dr. Mark Lubell ([e-mail]) as soon as possible if you intend to apply, and send full applications electronically by August 1, 2011. Applications received by this date will be given first consideration, although we will continue to accept applications after that date. Applications should include a CV, letter describing research interests and background as applied to this project, examples of any relevant publications, and three letters of reference. Top candidates will be screened by telephone with possibility of campus visit. The University of California, Davis, is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the development of a climate that supports equality of opportunity and respect for differences.

Note: This posting is from an older project. The description above reflects the information provided in the original posting.