Two Postdoctoral Fellows: Coupled Natural-Human Systems Modeling and
Climate/Environmental System Modeling
The University of Maine is launching an international search for two
Sustainability Science Postdoctoral Fellows: one in the area of
Coupled Natural-Human Systems Modeling and one in
Climate/Environmental System Modeling. The successful candidates
will join a new Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI) funded by a
5-year, $20 million NSF EPSCoR grant. SSI includes a team of 30+
faculty from a range of disciplines and multiple academic
institutions statewide. SSI's transformative research
program integrates coupled natural and human systems modeling,
stakeholder engagement, and solutions-oriented research activities.
Organized under a theme of landscape change, SSI supports multiple
research projects focused on urbanization, forest
ecosystem management, and climate change.
Currently, more than 10 different SSI-funded research projects are
exploring various sustainability science challenges, presenting a
unique opportunity to advance this emerging field. A major thrust of
SSI is to produce a new generation of
scientists who are equipped to work across disciplinary boundaries
and adept at collaborative, problem-solving work that spans research
and practice. The successful candidate will join an outstanding
cohort of incoming researchers, including 4 new
faculty, 3 other postdoctoral fellows, and 20+ doctoral
students. SSI is recruiting for this Postdoctoral Fellow position
with tentative start dates beginning as early as July-August, 2010.
The initial appointment will be for a one-year duration
with an opportunity for fixed-length renewal.
Position #1: Coupled Natural-Human Systems Modeling
Responsibilities: The postdoctoral fellow will become an active
member of the SSI research team with a major role in research design;
data collection, analysis, and, especially, modeling; and
publishing. By participating in ongoing team projects
and SSI-wide research activities, this Fellow will be expected to
develop an active modeling research program that serves an
integrative role, advances science, and strengthens collaborations
among SSI faculty. Core research responsibilities will
include planning and completion of modeling research projects,
preparation of manuscripts for publication in collaboration with SSI
researchers, presentation of research findings at public and
professional meetings, and working with SSI researcher
to pursue additional research funding. The successful candidate will
also have the opportunity to contribute to the evelopment and
implementation of SSI curricula and mentoring programs for graduate
and undergraduate students.
Qualifications: A Ph.D. with specialization in modeling or computer
science is required by the time of appointment. The following
experience and skills will be given preference: coupled natural-human
systems research experience; expertise in
modeling approaches appropriate to coupled systems (e.g., artificial
intelligence, systems, agent-based, spatial); data management and
programming expertise; and experience developing models of land use
change, climate change or forest ecosystems.
Position #2: Climate/Environmental System Modeling
Responsibilities: We seek a postdoctoral fellow with core
competencies in the following areas: linking terrestrial
environmental process models (for example, surface hydrologic
processes, water quality, groundwater flow, regional climate),
sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, downscaling climate projections
to local and regional scales, risk analyses to support planning and
multi-criteria decision-making. The postdoctoral fellow will be
expected to participate in ongoing team
projects and SSI-wide research activities, such as statewide
sustainability problem assessments within the areas of urbanization,
forest ecosystem management, climate change, and stakeholder
engagement. Core research responsibilities will include
planning and completion of research projects, preparation of
manuscripts for publication in collaboration with SSI researchers,
and presentation of research findings at public and professional
meetings, and working with SSI researchers to pursue
additional research funding. The successful candidate will also have
the opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation
of SSI curricula and mentoring programs for graduate and
undergraduate students.
Qualifications: A Ph.D. with specialization in earth science,
environmental sciences, civil and environmental engineering, systems
engineering or a closely related technical or scientific discipline
is required by the time of appointment. Experience
working on interdisciplinary research teams is preferred.
Applications for both positions: Candidates must demonstrate the
capacity to support their research programs, produce high-quality
scholarship and publications, and advance the SSI research program.
Applications must include all of the following
materials for consideration:
(1) A letter of interest (2-3 pages) that summarizes the candidate's:
research program, qualifications for the position, interests in
sustainability science, and plans for addressing the Fellowship
responsibilities. When describing your
qualifications, please provide a summary of your modeling skills and
your long term scientific interests, including discussion of
modeling, data management and programming expertise; (2) curriculum
vitae; (3) undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
(4) a sample of research (e.g., peer-reviewed publication); and (5)
names and contact information of three professional references.
Please send materials in PDF form to [ mailto:[email protected]
][email protected] or in hard copy form to:
Ruth Hallsworth
Senator George J. Mitchell Center
5710 Norman Smith Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5710
Review of applications will begin May 15, 2010.
The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer committed to maintaining an intellectually and culturally
diverse faculty and staff.
Details about the SSI research project and program can be found at:
http://www.umaine.edu/sustainabilitysolutions/
