Position overview
Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar in Urban and Environmental Studies
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. The posted UCSC salary scales set the minimum pay based on the individual’s Experience Level, which is determined by the number of months of postdoctoral service at any institution. See the salary scale titled, Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee /Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow / Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Direct -Fiscal Year. A reasonable estimate for this position is $60,000 - $64,522 (Level 0 - Level 2)
Percent time: Full-time (100%)
Anticipated start: As soon as possible after initial review of the applications. Degree requirement must be completed at the time of appointment.
Position duration: Maximum Duration of Service in a Postdoctoral Title: Postdoctoral Scholar appointments are full-time and the initial appointment is for a minimum of two years, with the possibility of reappointment. The total duration of an individual’s postdoctoral service may not exceed five years, including postdoctoral service at any institution.

Application Window

Open date: May 9, 2023

Next review date: Thursday, Jun 8, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Apr 26, 2024 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

The Departments of Sociology and Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invite applications for the position of Postdoctoral Scholar in Urban and Environmental Studies. Under the direction of Professors Miriam Greenberg and Chris Wilmers, the scholar will work with an interdisciplinary research team (including faculty, graduate and undergraduate student researchers, and community partners) and will help coordinate a two-year grant-funded research project at the intersection of critical climate, urbanization, and housing research. Specifically, the project aims to understand the drivers, dynamics, and demographics of growth in the Wildlands Urban Interface [WUI]—a land use associated with a range of socio-environmental problems, including catastrophic wildfire. In particular, the project analyzes the relationship between the recent spike in WUI growth and affordable housing crises in proximal urban areas. The geographic focus will be on the Central Coast and Greater Bay Area regions of California, with a historic focus on earlier cycles of displacement and dispossession in these regions. Specific duties for the postdoctoral scholar include:

• Spatial and census analysis of urban and WUI housing and population growth.
• Housing and land use policy and planning analysis.
• Use of field methods (surveys, interviews and/or archives) to trace changing push/pull factors motivating WUI migration .
• Analysis of social, cultural, environmental, health and equity impacts of WUI growth.

Under the supervision of Professors Greenberg and Wilmers, the incumbent will help facilitate the research team’s activities; conduct periodic public meetings to share findings; and help ensure that project milestones are accomplished in a timely manner.

Applicants with the following areas of expertise are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Expertise in relevant subfields, e.g., urban sociology, rural sociology, housing studies, urban political ecology, environmental anthropology, and/or critical geography and GIS.
• Quantitative plus qualitative/interpretive research skills, to aid with data analysis, field research, and manuscript preparation. (Quantitative skills might include: Stata, R, TidyCensus, NHGIS, and/or ArcGIS. Qualitative/interpretive skills might include: survey, semi-structured interview, oral history, documentary, and archival methods.)
• Good communication skills (verbal and written).
• Excellent organizational skills with substantial experience conducting independent research.

This is an excellent position for someone who recently finished their Ph.D. with a desire to continue conducting research prior to pursuing a career in academia or an applied urban or environmental field.

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.

Center for Integrated Spatial Research: https://spatial.cisr.ucsc.edu/

The Sociology Department: https://sociology.ucsc.edu/

The Environmental Studies Department: https://envs.ucsc.edu

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Ph.D. (or an equivalent foreign degree) in a social science field, e.g., sociology, environmental studies, urban and regional planning, geography, or a related field. It is anticipated that the degree will completed by September 30, 2023.
• Experience conducting spatial data analysis and fieldwork.

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V., which must include the names and contact information for a minimum of two referees. The committee will conduct reference checks for candidates who are under serious consideration.

• Cover Letter - Letter of application stating your relevant experience and interest in the position.

• Statement of Research

• Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement addressing your understanding of the barriers facing traditionally underrepresented groups and your past and/or future contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching and professional or public service. Candidates are urged to review guidelines on statements before preparing their application.

• Dissertation Abstract

• Writing Sample - Writing sample such as a peer-reviewed journal article or dissertation chapter.

Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01489

Help contact: jimmy@ucsc.edu

Campus Information

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, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.

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 UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify ). The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/102.530.html ).

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website at https://www.hercjobs.org/regions/higher-ed-careers-northern-california/ to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance. For information about employee benefits please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Updated Interim Amendments . All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2 , Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment . (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. Additional information and resources for compliance are located on the campus Health Center site

VISIT UC Santa Cruz: https://www.ucsc.edu

Job location
Santa Cruz, California