Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities – School of Natural Resources and Environment – The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan announces two post-doctoral research opportunities, beginning August or September 2015 and focusing on land-cover, social, and livelihood impacts of (1) large-scale land transactions and (2) forest sector investments in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America through statistical analysis of remote sensing and social survey data.

Our goal is to undertake systematic, quantitative analyses of the impacts of large-scale changes in land tenure and of forest sector investments on land-cover change andlivelihoods, to investigate both the patterns of interactions among these outcomes and the causal effects of land tenure change and forest sector investments through a statistical matching-based approach. The positions are part of multi-year projects funded by NASA and DFID that focus on Ethiopia, Tanzania, Liberia, Ghana, and Brazil. These are full-time positions available with an initial appointment of one-year, renewable up to one additional year on the basis of satisfactory performance.

The successful candidates for these positions will have expertise and interests in one or more of the following areas: remote sensing and image processing, land-cover change analysis at multiple scales, robust statistical inference, statistical analysis of quantitative survey data, use of matching methods, and integration of remote sensing, census, and social survey datasets. A PhD in Geography, Environmental Science or Studies, Economics, another Social Science, Forestry or a related field is required at the time of appointment. Experience working internationally is strongly desired.

The University of Michigan, a leader in undergraduate and graduate education and one of the world’s premiere research universities, offers rigorous academic programs, outstanding faculty, and diverse cultural and social opportunities in a stimulating intellectual environment. The School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) is a diverse collection of natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, and designers working collectively in an integrative setting. SNRE’s mission is to contribute to the protection of the Earth’s resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. The school contributes new scientific knowledge, visionary leadership, and trained professionals toward that end. A professional school set within a major research university, SNRE provides a model of interdisciplinary and applied research and a focal point of research and teaching on sustainability. The incumbent in this position would work jointly with faculty and staff in the Environmental Spatial Analysis Lab (ESALab) and the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) group.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include employee health and dental insurance.  Applicants should send 1) a copy of their CV, 2) a 1-2 page cover letter that a) explains their interest in the position, and b) outlines their relevant skills and experience, 3) a recent publication or dissertation chapter, and 4) names and contact details (email addresses and telephone numbers) for three references, to Joan Wolf (ifri@umich.edu), the IFRI administrator at the University of Michigan. Please also contact Joan in case of further questions.  The application deadline is April 15, 2015.

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International Forestry Resources & Institutions (IFRI)

School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan

1540 Dana Building, 440 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1041 USA

Phone (734) 764-9542  Fax (734) 647-5047