Postdoctoral Research Associate – Water Security & Transboundary Environmental Policy

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy (www.udallcenter.arizona.edu) seeks to fill the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate in water security—with emphasis on transboundary aspects and one or more of the following: sustainable water governance, use and dissemination of climate information, adaptation to global environmental change, groundwater policy, the water-energy nexus, water-demand management, development of alternative sources of water, and science-policy coproduction.  This is expected to be a two-year position (August 2014 – July 2016), with an initial appointment of one year that is renewable for a second year based on performance.

The position is a component of an international water security network with active research and stakeholder engagement in the arid Americas; in addition, the parent project works in Europe, Africa, and Asia.  The Udall Center has over two-and-a-half decades of work on challenges resulting from transboundary and transjurisdictional conditions, an important focus of this position.  For the past decade, we have received continuous, substantial support (over $4 million) from a number of sponsors, especially the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), and most recently from a private British foundation.  The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing collaboration of AQUASEC, the Center of Excellence for Water Security (aquasec.org), which has been designated as the first such thematic center of excellence by IAI.  Current partnerships involve researchers and stakeholder partners in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the Southwest U.S.

The University of Arizona is recognized globally for encouraging and supporting interdisciplinary research and outreach.  It is home to one of the largest and broadest concentrations of earth and environmental research and education in the U.S., with world-class programs in fields including environmental law, climate science, hydrology, ecosystem science and management, arid lands, and environmental engineering.  It is also an internationally-recognized center of research on adaptation to climate variability and change.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will conduct original research, support network activities, aid the lead investigators in supervising graduate students, travel to Latin America, support workshop implementation, prepare and submit project reports, aid in Web site development and maintenance, and contribute to the preparation of proposals for additional funding.

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

We seek an interdisciplinary scholar with a PhD (earned by the time the appointment starts) in geography, public policy, environmental economics, applied climate science or hydrology, or a related social-science or environmental-science field.  The successful candidate will have conducted original research and published in the peer-reviewed literature.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The region of particular focus is the arid Americas; thus, preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese in addition to English.

SALARY RANGE: $40,000 to $45,000 per year (12 months)

SUPERVISOR NAME:  Robert Varady

HOW TO APPLY:

The position will remain open until filled, but review of applications (and requests for letters of reference) will begin March 1, 2014, with interviews (conducted via phone or Skype) anticipated before May.

To apply, please submit an official University of Arizona job-specific application (citing job #54525), as well as curriculum vitae, list of publications, statement of research interests, and contact information for three references to:

The University of Arizona

Human Resources

888 N. Euclid #114

P.O. Box 210158

Tucson AZ 85721-0158

The job posting and instructions for submitting application materials online can be found at uacareertrack.com (search for Job #54525, or go to: www.uacareertrack.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=210962).

For more information on this position please contact Christopher Scott (cascott@email.arizona.edu).

 As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, the University of Arizona recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds M/W/D/V.