Postdoctoral Research Associate – Marine Debris Challenge (id:83006)
Orono
Sea Grant - OSG
UMPSA
N/A
Orono ME
The Maine Sea Grant Program at the University of Maine (UMaine) received funding in July 2023 in partnership with the UMaine Departments of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Anthropology, the Process Development Center, and the Climate Change Institute to advance research and community engagement related single-plastic reduction and reuse. The three-year project, Reducing Marine Debris at the Source: Material Replacement and Source Reduction for Single Use Food Packaging, is supported by the NOAA National Sea Grant Program. The key objectives of the project are 1) to advance efforts to slow resource loops through developing reusable alternatives to single-use plastic products; 2) to advance processes and develop products to replace single-use plastics with biodegradable materials from forests and oceans; and 3) to develop stakeholder-informed processes to provide industry and consumer input into the research, design, and trials of reusable and naturally derived alternatives to common sources of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine. Public consumer and industry acceptance of these novel solutions, life cycle analysis, and technical-economic analysis of the processes will be conducted. The goal is to lower the barriers for companies to enter the sustainable packaging market, and understand processes that might slow resource loops to reduce the inflow of plastics to the ocean.
The primary role of the Postdoctoral Research Associate is to design, support, and track synergistic activities to enhance integration and transfer of knowledge across the project’s four research components and with external partners, stakeholders, and a project advisory committee. These activities will include taking a leadership role in organizing and facilitating team and advisory committee meetings, workshops, conferences, and stakeholder engagement opportunities under the mentorship of the Maine Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research and in collaboration with UMaine faculty and staff leading each component. Communication in interdisciplinary teams requires considerable coordination to facilitate integration and knowledge sharing across disciplinary boundaries as well as the strategic design and implementation of engagement and outreach activities to avoid redundancies and stakeholder fatigue. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will also work closely with UMaine faculty leading the research component to develop a stakeholder-informed model for assessment of reusable/refillable food packaging strategies and a decision-support tool to help restaurateurs and other coastal community food service providers implement strategies best suited for their needs. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to conduct research on the communicative and collaborative aspects of cross-disciplinary team science to enhance project integration and contribute to scholarship in engaged research practices. Typical hiring range for this soft-money funded position is $50,000 to $60,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Complete Job Description
The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu .
The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.
UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer here .
Required:
- A completed Ph.D. in team science (or other social science field related to the position) from an accredited institution by the appointment date.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Demonstrated expertise in qualitative social science research methods.
- Experience working on collaborative, interdisciplinary teams or research projects.
- Proven experience working effectively with faculty, graduate students, and community and/or industry partners.
- The ability to travel is required, which normally requires a valid Maine State driver’s license.
Preferred:
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
- Experience organizing and facilitating interactions within interdisciplinary teams.
- Experience designing and implementing strategies to enhance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility (DEIJA) in research and community engagement activities.
- Experience with science communication and public outreach.
Materials must be submitted via "Apply For Position" below. You will need to create a profile and application; upload:
1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
3.) contact information for three professional references
You will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status forms. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
Search Timeline is as follows: Updated November 21, 2023
Review of applications to begin: January 2, 2024
Screening interviews to begin no earlier than: January 16, 2024
On-site interviews to begin no earlier than: Janaury 22, 2024
Tentative start date: February 2, 2024
For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Beth Bisson at [email protected] or 207-481-8520.
The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
Fiscal Year (12 Months)
Cover Letter, References, Resume/CV