Application Deadline: Wednesday, Jan 31, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara is inviting applications for a postdoctoral scholar to help lead a newly funded project focused on developing a framework to incorporate a social cost of plastic pollution into public policy decision making. As part of this two-year project this postdoctoral scholar will work collaboratively with a dynamic project team and expert working group. Together this team will work to lay the groundwork for determining the best approach and developing a framework by which the external marginal cost of plastic can be incorporated into regulatory impact analysis, taking into account idiosyncratic release rates, persistence, and ecological impacts. This work will allow local, state, and federal public agencies to make better-informed decisions on the management of the manufacturing, use, and disposal of plastics. This is a two-year long position and will be based at NCEAS in Santa Barbara, California.
A reasonable estimated full-time rate for this position at 100% time is $64,480- $$77,327. Salaries that are higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated experience level minimum, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. The position duration is two years.
Roles/Responsibilities
- Co-lead (together with working group co-chairs) analysis and synthesis of plastic pollution release rates, environmental persistence, and ecological impacts to develop a framework for incorporating a social cost of plastic pollution into public policy decision making;
- Partner with the working group co-leads to create agendas, set timelines, draft milestones, and track progress;
- Engage with environmental economists, marine debris and waste management experts, policy experts, fisheries economists, and stakeholders;
- Collaborate with the working group to find and curate data, draft reports and publications; and
- Lead writing and publication of scientific developments in peer review journals.
Eligibility
- Ph.D. in environmental science, economics (with a focus on environmental economics), ecology, environmental policy, or a relevant discipline at time of appointment.
- Strong analytical and modeling skills, including data science, database management, data visualization, etc.
- Experience working with social cost frameworks
- Strong scientific writing skills
- Experience working on subjects related to estimating external marginal costs, natural resource economics, plastic pollution fate & transport, waste management, plastic policy
- Knowledge of regulatory impact analysis
Requirements
- Ability to review and synthesize large amounts of literature and complex information
- Ability to take initiative and work both independently and as part of a working group
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to translate complex scientific information and effectively communicate with a variety of audiences
- Strong networking and relationship-building skills and interest in building broad collaborations
- Experience working with groups outside of academia (agency, industry, NGOs, etc.)
- Demonstrates an understanding and acceptance of diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts that are broader than only race, ethnicity, and gender.
Application Details
- A CV
- A cover letter
- Name and contact information for three references
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.
