The University of California’s newly founded Institute for the Study of Ecological Effects of Climate Impacts (ISEECI) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in ecological and/or environmental history. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team of more than two-dozen UC faculty and graduate students using the university’s Natural Reserve System (NRS), the world’s largest network of university-run ecological field stations, as a laboratory for documenting and analyzing climate related change in California’s diverse ecosystems—past, present, and future. Potential research themes include: (1) drawing on related, ongoing efforts to help build and make accessible an archival infrastructure of historical materials necessary to support baseline analyses of ecological changes in the NRS; and (2) using historical materials to develop (i) a rich ecological and environmental history of ISEECI/NRS sites to be used as a reference for future work and as a model for similar efforts at other UC reserves or (ii) a taxonomically focused project, examining changes in the distribution and abundance of a particular species or group, as related to climate change, land use, resource management, or other factors. The successful candidate will be expected to develop their own research project within these themes, working on or near reserves or other sites in the ISEECI gradient (https://iseeci.ucnrs.org/) and potentially other UC reserves as well. Candidates may propose original research (in collaboration with an ISEECI faculty member) that addresses fundamental questions. Alternatively, they may work with faculty on ongoing or prospective projects. The ideal candidate for this position is an energetic, interdisciplinary scholar of historical ecology and/or environmental history, with additional interests or training in information science, archival curation, science studies, or the digital humanities. This position includes unique opportunities for intercampus and interdisciplinary collaboration and career development. This position is for one year, but renewable for a second year subject to progress and the availability of funds. The fellowship appointment may be made at any UC campus as appropriate based on the fellow’s experience, available mentors, and resources. This position includes unique opportunities for intercampus and interdisciplinary collaboration and career development. Applications must include a CV, a cover letter briefly describing the candidate’s research interests, intended mentor and the names and contact information of three references. Potential mentors and their research interests are listed Applicants should contact prospective faculty mentors, and the mentor should submit a separate letter of support. Email application materials may be submitted to Becca Fenwick (bfenwick@ucsc.edu). Applications will be reviewed beginning on October 1, 2015, with the appointment beginning as early as November 1, 2015. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position includes a research budget for equipment, supplies and travel among UC campuses and reserves. The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and is supportive of dual career couples. Potential Mentors (please link these names to the text below)
Peter Alagona, Dept. History & Environmental Studies Program, UC Santa Barbara Jessica Blois, School of Natural Sciences, UC Merced Jon Christensen, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) and Department of History, and Peter Kareiva, IoES and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA Maggi Kelly, Dept. Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley Laurel Fox, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz |