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Opportunity: Postdoc in Climate Science and Working with Indigenous Peoples

Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Michigan State University (MSU) and the NE CSC consortium insititution College of Menominee Nation (CMN) invite applicants for a research associate (postdoctoral research fellow) under a National Science Foundation grant. 

 
This project seeks to understand the range of practices that U.S. climate science organizations employ to prepare their staff for ethical issues that will occur when engaging with Indigenous peoples and to evaluate the perceptions of the effectiveness of these practices from organizational and Indigenous perspectives. This fellow will have an unparalleled opportunity to work at the nexus of Indigenous peoples and scientific research on climate change. This is a one year twelve month appointment with option for renewal for an additional year. 
 
The primary responsibilities of the fellow are to assist or lead qualitative analysis, survey design and implementation, and quantitative analysis of the survey results. The fellow will also be expected to (1) co-organize a small research symposium for federal, nonprofit and Indigenous scientists and (2) participate in the design of curriculum on research design and evaluation for Tribal college students. 
 
The postdoctoral research fellow will be expected to be in residence at MSU in the first year. Residency moves to CMN during the second year of the project. The fellow will be advised by Professors Kyle Whyte and Julie Libarkin at MSU and Director Chris Caldwell at CMN. 
 
MSU offers many programs for research at the nexus of environmental and food science and Indigenous peoples. Programs include the Position Summary: Environmental Science & Policy Program, the Center for Gender in Global Context, the Native American Institute, the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, the American Indian Studies Program, the Center for Regional Food Systems and the Indigenous Law and Policy Center. These programs furnish a wide variety of annual academic events and networking opportunities. 
 
CMN's Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) is dedicated to examining sustainability issues and applying them to the Menominee model of sustainable development. CMN SDI is a consortium member of the NE CSC and a member of the Sustainable Climate Risk Management (SCRiM) network. SDI has been funded on projects concerning climate change by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Science Foundation, NASA, GLISA (NOAA), and USDA. SDI has taken leadership in connecting academic and federal scientists and Indigenous peoples. 
 
MSU is a research university, a member of the Association of American Universities, and is affiliated with the Committee on Institutional Cooperation consortium. MSU is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.  
 
This position is for a scholar with a PhD in a social science field or a science PhD with extensive experience in social science methods. Although not required, candidates with experience in areas such as climate and environmental science, ethics, Native American & Indigenous Studies, and/or the history, philosophy and sociology of science (HPS) are encouraged to apply. 
 
Applications should be submitted electronically to the Michigan State University Human Resources website (www.jobs.msu.edu), MSU Posting 2549. Applicants are required to submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three references. The position will start August 16 2016. 
 
Review of applications will begin on February 1st, 2016 and continue until position has been filled. 
 
Queries may be directed to Professor Kyle Whyte, Chair of the Search Committee, kwhyte@msu.edu.