Postdoctoral Associate

MORE INFO & LINK TO APPLY: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/524672/postdoctoral-associate

APPLICATION TIMELINE: Advertised 2/14/2023; Application review begins 3/16/2023

A postdoctoral associate with a passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in conservation and/or life science to conduct research to inform how three ornithological societies can facilitate culture change in ornithology. The postdoctoral associate will be mentored by Dr. Dayer (conservation social scientist) at Virginia Tech and be part of her dynamic lab, collaborate closely with PI Dr. Shizuka at University of Nebraska - Lincoln, as well as part of a project team of ornithologists passionate about fostering DEIB. Virginia Tech values diversity and continually strives to maintain and promote an inclusive learning and research environment that embrace all students, faculty, and staff. We are particularly interested in applications from persons identifying with groups currently underrepresented in natural resources fields, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, and underrepresented genders and sexual identities. This would include cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and those who are otherwise marginalized.

The project is a two-year project funded by the National Science Foundation’s Leading Cultural Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS). We are working with American Ornithology Society, Wilson Ornithological Society, and Association for Field Ornithologists. Through social science research and a transformative resilience framework, the project will design a process for co-creating cross-society affinity groups (identity-based groups created by and for members from historically excluded communities). Methods will include surveys of ornithological society members (quantitative) and focus groups and interactive workshops (qualitative) to develop a plan for a future implementation phase of the project. The ultimate goal is to transform ornithology into an inclusive discipline that leverages the talents of the diverse communities of learners, scientists, and practitioners to solve urgent problems in ecology, conservation, and environmental justice.

The postdoctoral associate will: 1) Coordinate project logistics; 2) Design and implement membership surveys of 3 ornithological societies to assess diversity and determine interest in affinity groups; 3) Focus group with an existing ornithological society affinity groups; 4) Work with the PI and Co-PI to develop and implement workshops to co-design affinity groups; 5) Lead the writing of an evidence-based plan to be presented for community feedback at the North American Ornithological Conference in 2025; 6) Mentor undergraduate student interns; 7) Publish peer-reviewed articles; 8) Communicate results at conferences and webinars; 9) Be an active member of the Dayer Lab and a growing post-doc community in the Global Change Center; and 10) Be mentored to gain diverse and marketable skills (e.g., grant-writing, student mentoring) following a Postdoc Mentoring Plan.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

- Ph.D. in conservation social science, natural resources, multi-cultural studies or other field related to the project. PhD must be awarded no more than three years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of two years eligibility remaining.
- Knowledge of social science (e.g., psychology, sociology) concepts, principles, and qualitative and quantitative methods sufficient to contribute to project design, data collection, and data analysis.
- Demonstrated skills in collaborating with others on teams to accomplish shared objectives.
- Research experience related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and/or justice.
- Excellent communication skills and organizational skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

- Experience in project coordination and management of complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, researchers and/or partners.
- Experience with workshop or focus group facilitation.
- Experience communicating scientific results and methods to conservation professionals.
- Experience mentoring students or interns.
- Expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging program design
- Familiarity with science co-production approaches.
- Experience with ornithological or ecological societies

The university values diversity and continually strives to maintain and promote an inclusive learning and research environment that embrace all students, faculty, and staff. We are particularly interested in applications from persons identifying with groups currently underrepresented in natural resources fields, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, and underrepresented genders. This would include cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and those who are otherwise marginalized. 

Questions? Contact Dr. Ashley Dayer (dayer@vt.edu)

Apply here (review date 3/16/2023):

https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/524672/postdoctoral-associate