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Postdoctoral Scholar in California Water Management

Position overview

Salary range: The posted UC salary scales (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnelprograms/compensation/index.html) set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table 23: Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee, Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow, Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Direct, Fiscal Year (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/oct-2024-scales/t23.pdf) and Table 23N: Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee, Experience-Based Hourly Rate Minimum, Fiscal Year, Non-exempt (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/oct-2024-scales/t23.pdf). The salary range for this position is $66,737 - $80,034 for fulltime or $31.97-$38.34 for part-time. “Off-scale salaries”, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Application Window

Open date: September 5, 2024

Next review date: Friday, Sep 20, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Professor Brett Milligan at the University of California, Davis is recruiting a Postdoctoral Scholar to begin around fall of 2024 (start date flexible) to work on publicly engaged research co-developing future scenarios for more equitable management and allocation of water in California.

Water is at the forefront of California’s climate change adaptation challenges. Climate change is exposing California’s water management system to new extremes, including multi-annual droughts and flooding events that are unprecedented in modern history. The loss of snowpack and reduction of supplies from the Colorado River are further stressing California’s water supplies. Many communities do not have reliable access to water and are increasingly vulnerable to shortages. Freshwater ecosystems, already in decline, are under increasing stress. The purpose of this research effort, COEQWAL - a COllaboraory for EQuity in Water ALlocations - is to understand how our water system will respond to changes in operations, infrastructure, and regulations under an uncertain climate future. As part of the project, we are expanding the functionality of CalSim, a water management model, to address and communicate contemporary water challenges. We aim to create a co-learning environment in which communities can learn how California’s water system works and then evaluate how alternative future water scenarios may affect them.

Major responsibilities of the postdoc will include:
-Assisting in the project’s public engagement and participatory scenario planning research
-Developing, administering and analyzing results of surveys and interviews.
-Performing public/community outreach and fieldwork across a variety of locations.
-Attend in-person and virtual workshops and meetings
-Facilitating co-production processes and information flows between the research team, participants and interested publics.
-Development of research and outreach outputs, including publications, research briefs, data visualizations, and presentations.

This position is for 2 years, and there is the possibility for renewal dependent on performance and possible extension of the project. This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate with expertise in qualitative research methods (interviews, surveys, participant observation) who would like to develop or refine expertise in areas such as publicly engaged research/scholarship, equitable climate adaptation, water management, co-design, co-production, and participatory scenario planning.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
  • PhD or other doctoral degree in applicable social science, planning, design, environmental management fields (or related fields) at time of appointment start date.

  • Strong skills and experience in designing and administering interviews and surveys, and coding/analysis of results (ideal candidate will be able to co-lead and manage this research).

  • Ability to conduct fieldwork, workshops and research in a variety of locations and in person.

  • Flexibility to meet changing research needs, as determined by the project’s workflow and timeline.

  • Excellent writing and communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

  • Excellent organizational skills.

  • A strong publication record demonstrating prior experience related to the research topics in the position description.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)
  • Experience working in collaborative, interdisciplinary, publicly engaged research teams.

  • Familiarity with California water management issues and challenges.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. with publication list

  • Letter of Interest -

    Document should describe relevant research experience, interest and fit for the position, and long-term career goals.

  • Publication #1 (Optional)

  • Publication #2 (Optional)

  • Publication #3 (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.
    (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-4 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06707

Help contact: kralexandra@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their "Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Job location

Davis, CA