Postdoctoral Fellowship

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How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following items:

A copy of their CV

A 1-2 page cover letter that:

• Explains their interest in the position
• Outlines their relevant skills and experience

A recent publication or dissertation chapter

Names and contact details (email addresses and telephone numbers) for three references.

Summary

The University of Michigan seeks to appoint a full-time postdoctoral fellow in the field of climate change, demographic change, and sociopolitical stability. This postdoctoral appointment will begin on  Sept. 1, 2024 (earlier if possible). The position aims to support research on how climate change and demographic change are reshaping prospects for sociopolitical stability, conflict, and violence in Africa. Successful candidates will have strong statistical and spatial analysis experience, and the ability to integrate climate, statistical modeling, remote sensing, and social survey datasets. The selected postdoctoral fellow will investigate: 

Mechanisms connecting climate change and variability to sociopolitical stability

Differences in the distribution of conflict and violence in Africa and their association with other factors that climate change and variability influence directly or indirectly

Pathways that may mitigate risks of conflict and instability.

Fellows will have time available for their own research as well as time devoted to working on research leading to publications with other members of the project.

Note: This position will be a 1-year (full-time) term limited appointment with the possibility of renewal. 

Mission Statement

The School for Environment and Sustainability (https://seas.umich.edu/ ) is a collaborative and interdisciplinary school. Our mission includes contributing to the protection of environmental resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. We accomplish this by generating and sharing knowledge, contributing to policy and engaging managers and stakeholders. The University of Michigan is a top-ranked public university with excellence in research and teaching.  Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, is a town known for arts, culture, parks and restaurants.

SEAS is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable environment that respects diverse experiences, promotes generous listening and communications, and discourages and restoratively responds to acts of discrimination, harassment, or injustice. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is deeply rooted in our values for a sustainable and just society.

Who We Are

The School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan is a diverse collection of natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, and designers working collectively in an integrative setting.

The Center for Political Studies (CPS) at the University of Michigan is part of the Institute for Social Research (ISR), and promotes collaborative research on and infrastructural development for the social scientific study of politics. For over 50 years, CPS has been the intellectual home of researchers leading path-breaking studies of political phenomena.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting (Confirm position is eligible)
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Required Qualifications*

• Demonstrated skills in statistical analysis and computational social science
• Expertise and interests in one or more of the following areas: climate change and demographic change data products; land-cover and climate change analysis at multiple scales, integration of climate, survey, and census datasets with different resolutions and at different scales; robust statistical inference; and causal inference through statistical analysis. 
• A PhD in Geography, relevant social sciences, Natural Resources, Economics, Climate Science, Sustainability Science, Data Sciences, or a related field is required at the start of appointment.

Additional Information

This appointment is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Flexible work agreements may be made to support full/partial off-site work at a remote location.

Salary will be determined based on experience.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is June 30, 2024

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.