Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities at the U.S. Geological Survey, Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center, Denver, Colorado
We seek talented individuals to apply for Research Opportunity #40 of the USGS Mendenhall program ( http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/2012/opps/opp40.html) Highlights. 1. Excellent salary (~$75,000/yr) and a research budget! 2. Be part of a motivated, diverse research group (Our team includes expertise in landscape ecology, ecosystem services, land change modelling, geophysics, economics, and social science) 3. Focus on independent, yet collaborative research. To optimize your success we urge you to: 1. Go to http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/ for detailed information on the application process and project descriptions. 2. Contact Jay Diffendorfer ([email protected]) to collectively fashion a high caliber application package. Research Opportunity #40. Costs and Benefits of Energy Development The United States is in the process of transforming its energy strategy, including encouraging the installation of wind and solar electricity production facilities. Energy production affects both natural and human systems, although the impacts vary by the technology, resource employed, and location. We view energy production as part of a coupled human-natural system, where the levels and mix of energy production evoke change in the natural, socioeconomic, and cultural systems, while technical advances, societal trends, policy changes, the price of energy, and economic health all contribute to the rates and types of energy developed (Liu and others, 2007). The interplay between energy production and its impacts (positive and negative) is poorly understood, particularly in a geographically explicit manner. For example, many energy assessments lack geographically based considerations of environmental impacts and their associated benefits and costs (U.S. Department of Energy, 2008; Sullivan and others, 2009). They also do not provide an informational base for performing landscape-level planning of energy activities. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS researchers), and their collaborators, currently investigate energy impacts through a number of projects and are well prepared to support a Mendenhall Fellow in this area of research. The research proposed by a candidate could focus on topics including natural, socioeconomic, or coupled natural and social system responses to energy development. Furthermore, three general elements of a successful proposal would mesh particularly well with ongoing research at the USGS. Geospatial analyses of national energy policy.?This element focuses on trade-offs inherent to different energy strategies using geographically explicit estimates of costs and benefits (Thórhallsdóttir, 2007). Scenarios regarding the mix of energy types employed to meet future national demand exist, including three developed by the U.S. Energy Information Agency (2009) and a scenario developed by Princeton?s Carbon Mitigation Initiative (Pacala and Socolow, 2004). How these strategies would drive changes in land cover, hydrology, water quality, and public health is unknown. Also unknown are their contributions to cumulative impacts on Federal lands and the public perception and acceptance of these impacts. The detailed methods for analysis are multifaceted and open to the candidate but should include scaling of locally derived estimates of impact to regional or national issues and the role of scientific information in policy and management processes (Graffy, 2008). Regional- or State-level assessments of energy development.?Regional and State assessments use energy-production goals planned by States for conversion to renewable sources, usually through a legislated Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Most States have a portfolio of potential renewable energy resources based on natural resource endowments or economic development goals. Given a State?s goals, a research project could use geospatial data on energy availability, infrastructure, natural resources, and socioeconomic and cultural conditions to estimate impacts, investigate trade-offs, and understand public responses (Würtenberger and others, 2006; Vera and Langlois, 2007). This approach could include multi-objective optimization algorithms, process- or agent-based modeling, ecosystem service trade-off analyses, or the use of pre-existing public survey data related to energy production. Approaches could also focus on risk assessment and (or) public perceptions of risk associated with various energy-development scenarios, particularly when employing next-generation applications of web-enabled interactive GIS platforms that foster dialogue between researchers, citizen scientists, and public stakeholders (Graffy and Booth, 2009). Candidates will need to carefully select a region or State with both explicit energy development goals and adequate geospatial data to support the research. Energy-development forecasting.?Analyses of future impacts and decision support systems require robust forecasts of future development. Although a variety of methods exist to forecast urban growth, few have been developed for energy (for example, Copeland and others, 2009). Forecasts of energy development could include constraints on development (endangered species, State parks, and so on), economics, resource availability (wind levels, oil quantities, and so on), and potential consequences (water pollution, and so on) as well as development locations that optimize efficient energy production and its benefits. Attention to stakeholder processes in decisionmaking and evaluation of the role of scientific information in decision processes can also play a role in this work (Graffy, 2008). A wide array of methods could be used and specific choices will depend on the candidate?s expertise and background. Methods could range from agent-based simulations, to nested regression models based on empirically known relationships of demand and impact, or others as appropriate. Proposed Duty Station: Denver, CO Areas of Ph.D.: Geography, ecology, economics, sociology, energy policy, mathematics, and (or) computer science (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines but with knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered). Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geographer, Research Ecologist, Research Economist, Research Physical Scientist (This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.) Research Advisors: Jay Diffendorfer, (303) 202-4070, [email protected]; Steve Garman (303) 202-4118, [email protected]; Elisabeth Graffy, (608)-821-3836, [email protected]; Darius Semmens, 303-202-4331, [email protected]; Seth Haines, 303-236-5709, [email protected] Human Resources Office Contact: Dianne Benallo, (303) 236-9544, [email protected] Background information: Mendenhall PostDoctoral Research Opportunities at the U.S. Geological Survey The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program (now called Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program) in 2001 in honor of Walter C. Mendenhall, the fifth Director of the USGS. The Mendenhall Program provides an opportunity for recent PhD graduates (within five years since completion of the doctoral degree) to conduct concentrated research in association with selected members of the USGS professional staff. The Program is intended to provide research fellows with experiences that enhance their personal scientific skills and accomplishments. Through the Mendenhall Program the USGS acquires current expertise to assist in the advancement of its scientific goals. To date, over 120 Mendenhall Fellows have joined the USGS. Mendenhall Fellowships are 2-year appointments with a competitive salary and benefits package. Mendenhall Fellows are also granted project expense funds appropriate to the scope of research to be conducted. Postdoctoral research projects under this program have spanned a wide range of scientific topics of interest and relevance to the mission of the USGS. For additional information, please consult the Project Profiles section of the Mendenhall Program web site at the following URL: http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/ What is it like to be a USGS Mendenhall Fellow? Check out the FAQ section of the program web site for some very informative quotes from previous Mendenhall Fellows. Also, another way, of course, is to find out directly from a Fellow -- Project Profiles contain their contact information. The next round of research opportunities (FY-12 Fellowships) were announced in September, 2010. The application closing date is December 30, 2010. Program contacts: Dr. Rama K. Kotra, 703-648-6271, [email protected]
