Postdoctoral Research Associate - Academic Center for Reliability and Resilience of Offshore Wind

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description

• Establish a research platform for citizen-involved research on energy. This will include:
  
  
  
  • developing relationships with a core interested parties to be identified in eastern Massachusetts;
  • conducting interviews and focus groups to co-design research;
  • qualitative data analysis.
  
  
  
  
• Engage with citizens more broadly as part of ARROW-Engage stakeholder workshops as well as meetings with interested parties sponsored by other organizations such as MassCEC.
• Contribute to project outputs, including reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations for academic and public audiences.
• Engage with media and press as well as interested parties to inform ARROW research and publicize the work of ARROW
• Attend conferences and professional meetings as appropriate
• Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

PhD in Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, Social Psychology, Geography, Environmental Social Science, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience with human subjects and ability to work effectively with the full range energy system actors.
• Experience with participatory research methods.
• Desire to conduct collaborative research that bridges citizen, policy, and academic stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of qualitative research methods, including surveys, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and oral communication for academic and public audiences.
• Expertise in qualitative or mixed-methods data collection and analysis.
• Experience working with tribal nations.

Additional Information

The Post-Doc will be administratively based at University of Massachusetts Amherst, with duties occurring both in Amherst and Eastern Massachusetts, most likely in Greater New Bedford and Dartmouth. Either location may be acceptable as a primary work location, with regular travel required between the two locations expected. Detailed work arrangements to be negotiated during the hiring process.

The Post-Doc will be integrated into energy-related activities through UMass Amherst and ARROW. This position will report to Professor Erin Baker.

The initial appointment will be for one year, with extension to 2 or 2.5 years based on performance evaluation and availability of funding.

Application Instructions

Applicants should apply online provide a cover letter, CV, and three references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.