RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 2

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. 

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) seeks a full-time Research Scientist/Engineer 2 (E S UAW RSE) to support the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative (NCRC), our largest climate justice research program. We are looking for a candidate that can support work involving the creation of case studies and synthesis that inform broader climate justice and adaptation research practices, the development of a climate justice summer institute, and project management. We are looking for candidates with a strong social science research background and demonstrated passion and excitement for climate or environmental justice. Although this position will remain open until filled, applicant screening will begin March 25th.

Climate Impacts Group

The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) supports the development of climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks & enabling science-based action to manage those risks. Since 1995, the Climate Impacts Group has linked cutting edge scientific research with innovative approaches to community engagement to produce exceptional research products, develop strong relationships among resource managers, planners, and policy makers in the region and build regional capacity for addressing climatic variability and change. The Climate Impacts Group is a member organization of EarthLab.

EarthLab is a visionary institute that pushes boundaries to address our most pressing environmental challenges, with a focus on climate and its intersection with social justice. EarthLab does this by connecting faculty, students and researchers at the University of Washington to community collaborators in businesses, non-profits, public agencies, Tribal nations and others to co-produce actionable research that generates solutions and strategies for local and global impact. EarthLab’s vision, an equitable, just and sustainable world where people and planet thrive, supports one of the University’s biggest goals. As a Carnegie-classified Community Engagement University, the UW aspires to be the #1 university in the world as measured by impact. EarthLab is inspired by and committed to this challenge.

The College of the Environment promotes diversity and inclusivity among our students, faculty, staff, and public. Thus, we are strongly seeking candidates whose experiences have prepared them to fulfill our commitment to inclusion and have given them the confidence to fully engage audiences from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. The University of Washington (UW) is located in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, with a dynamic, multicultural community of 3.7 million people and a range of ecosystems from mountains to ocean. The UW serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 25% first-generation college students, over 25% Pell Grant students, and faculty from over 70 countries.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion:

EarthLab and the Climate Impacts Group acknowledge the systemic racism that exists in the environmental sector and within environmentalism. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by bringing a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. We are seeking candidates who are committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment where all voices are considered and valued.

POSITION PURPOSE

The research scientist will contribute to a body of work that focuses on moving climate adaptation and climate justice into an implementation space. This may include the following: (1) collaborate with CIG and NCRC staff and partners to synthesize information and knowledge on and push the boundaries of participatory action and community-based research methods; (2) synthesize and contribute to understandings of climate and environmental justice in the context of a federally funded, university-based research program; (3) contribute to the development of case studies and other outputs that share lessons learned and projects of the NCRC; and (4) support the development, logistics, and project management of a climate justice summer school, among other projects.

We expect this will require (1) training or experience in social science methods and/or experience in developing case studies, literature reviews, policy analysis, and/or experience working at or with community-based/grassroots organizations; (2) familiarity with environmental and climate challenges underserved and frontline communities face; (3) the ability to work concurrently on multiple complex projects.

This position will also be responsible for project management activities, or providing other logistical support, for the projects you are involved in. This would likely include organizing and staffing meetings, note taking, workshop and conference agenda development, developing and implementing project plans, tracking and reporting timelines, report writing, etc.

While educational attainment is valued, we also encourage applications from practitioners who have worked in government, non-profits, and consulting who can bring a practical orientation to the CIG team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Research Support [65%]