Two post-doctoral research opportunities are available at the new School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan beginning summer or fall 2017. The selected candidates will join a team of researchers working on several multi-year projects that focus on systematic analyses of the impacts of changes in land tenure and of different types of project implementation efforts in relation to forests and agriculture.
The postdoctoral research fellows will work under the supervision of Professor Arun Agrawal and Dan Brown at the new School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, and will contribute to the research efforts of the above grants. The fellows will work as part of an interdisciplinary team of faculty, postdoctoral researcher fellows, and students based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, as well as with research colleagues outside UM and in host countries.
Responsibilities of the research fellows will be to:
– Coordinate research in one or more of the following countries: Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Nepal, and Tanzania
– Contribute to data-collection, analysis, and writing of papers and proposals
– Travel internationally, including time in remote rural (forest and agricultural) landscapes
– Mentor graduate students
– Collaborate with partner organizations, including academic, NGO, donor, and development agencies
– Help with meeting research and outreach deliverables to DFID
Combined, the two successful candidates will have the following skills & qualifications
– A recent Ph.D. in development, environmental science or studies, geography, economics or another social science, political ecology, forestry, or a related field . Applicants with an interdisciplinary degree are welcome.
– Advanced statistical analysis skills with large datasets and ideally including the use of matching methods for causal inference
– Fluency in R, Stata, or similar statistical package
– Familiarity with quantitative methods for dataset manipulation and analysis.
– Strong writing skills
– Familiarity with spatial analysis (e.g. with GIS) and remote sensing methods desired
Knowledge & experience
– Clear understanding of rural livelihoods and development, particularly in forested landscapes
– Clear understanding of natural resource management and governance, particularly in forested landscapes
– Experience of research on impact evaluation or knowledge of statistical techniques related to impact evaluation
*Experience of working in one or more of the key project countries (Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Nepal, and Tanzania) is desirable as is working in teams.
Applications are due March 31, 2017, but we will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis from March 1, 2017. The exact start date is negotiable, but should not be after Sept 1, 2017. Salary and Benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include employee health and dental insurance.
Applicants should submit 1) a copy of their CV, 2) a 1-2 page a cover letter that a) explains their interest in the position, and b) outlines their relevant skills and experience, 3) a recent publication or dissertation chapter, and 4) names and contact details (email addresses and telephone numbers) for three references for “Land systems Research Fellow application”. Please contact Arun Agrawal (arunagra@umich.edu) in case of questions.
Interested applicants should submit their application materials on this page: Postdoctoral research fellow opportunity – SEAS