The Institute on the Environment (IonE), Knowledge Initiatives team, at the University of Minnesota, invites applications for an IonE Postdoctoral Fellowship focused on answering critical sustainability questions through systems thinking and deploying a range of interdisciplinary methods within social science and synthesis as well as data science and modeling. Each fellow will work on a one or two specific projects that may include research from the follow areas:
Adaptation
Mitigation
Biodiversity
Clean Energy
Water and Land
Food Systems
Planetary Health
Environmental Justice
Natural Capital
Decision Support
This work would be supervised and mentored by an Institute on the Environment research scientist or faculty. Each fellow will have a mentoring team that includes a primary mentor based at IonE, other IonE scholars, and a community, government, and/or industry mentor. This team is committed to support you in both project-based and professional development mentoring.
Overall, the Postdoc is expected to balance multiple tasks and manage time efficiently to ensure project activities and research activities are rigorous and completed in an organized and efficient manner for incorporation into multiple peer-reviewed publications. Research outcomes are also co-produced with non-academic project partners to support the implementation of research findings into operations and environmental decision-making, which requires thoughtful partner engagement, regular briefings, and recommendation memos. The position is annually renewable with continuation dependent on performance for two years.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Note: IonE Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to develop skills and adopt project management best practices for all their projects. This includes activities, incorporated into project work, such as:
Project goal setting and meeting planning and managing-up of PI and project team members, including:
Report weekly on project goals and hours and location of work on Basecamp and Google calendar. Sick and vacation time for postdocs is expected to be claimed.
Report weekly on project goals and hours and location of work on Basecamp
Report back on project progress, collaborate, and identify needs with other team members on Basecamp
Organize, document, and share work in Basecamp, Google suite collaborative products, and team file organization structure
Adopt IonE research software, data, and metadata best practices related to archiving, documentation, and accessibility.
80% Research
Note: the specific responsibilities will vary depending on the specific project(s) that will become part of the IonE Postdoctoral Fellowsâ™s portfolio of research work.
Conducting research relevant to project, which may include developing research proposals, designing experiments or studies, and/or collecting data
Data analysis, which may include using statistical methods or software, data analysis and/or data interpretation
Documentation and reporting, which may include writing research reports, documenting research findings, methodologies, and analyses in formal reports, and/ or creating data/research visualizations.
Dissemination of findings, which may include presenting research results, publishing research papers, and/or sharing research in other ways for a broader audience.
Collaboration and engagement, which may include engaging with stakeholders and/or participating in research teams
Giving and receiving feedback, which may include reviewing and updating research practices and/or gathering input from peers or mentors to improve research quality and outcomes.
20% Professional Development
Development and execution of an individual Professional Development Plan
Seek professional development opportunities related to the position and in support of future career development goals, including IonE service activities such as grant review
Attend staff meetings, IonE postdoc professional development events, and participate in staff activities and programming of the Institute on the Environment, including required attendance at IonE KI Deep Engagement Weeks three times per year
Required Qualifications
PhD in any disciplinary field, including interdisciplinary studies. Must have either expertise or expressed interest in developing expertise in a particular aspect of sustainability.
PhD anticipated in 2025 or completed within the past 5 years (i.e. after December 31, 2019).
Willingness to relocate to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area or a statement of preference for remote work and willingness to regularly engage in person at IonE
Candidates must be U.S. work eligible; non-U.S. scholars must have or be able to obtain a visa. Preferred Qualifications
Professional experience in incorporating aspects of diversity, equity, inclusivity, justice, and accessibility into your research or a desire to learn as part of these research projects
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.
