Postdoctoral Associate

Position Description

The Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
Natural Resources and Environment

Postdoctoral Associate

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of
purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work
across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned
research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we
seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving
next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the
world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious
food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that
ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local
people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific
areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance,
here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Position Function:

The Ashley School of Global Development and the
Environment at Cornell University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral
Associate to lead the synthesis and pathways component of the
multi-institutional Grassland Futures project. This North American
initiative brings together researchers and conservation practitioners from
organizations including: The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund and
multiple universities to understand the drivers of grassland conversion across
the Great Plains of the United States and Canada.

The Postdoctoral Associate will work closely with an
interdisciplinary team and diverse stakeholders to integrate diverse forms of
knowledge and develop systems-based understanding of grass conservation
challenges and opportunities and identify potential pathways for sustaining thriving
grassland agroecosystems.

This position is an exceptional opportunity for a scholar
seeking to develop expertise at the interface of science, stakeholder
engagement, and decision-making, while helping shape the future of grassland
conservation across North America.

There is a strong preference for this position to be based in Ithaca.
Remote arrangements may be negotiable.

Key areas of responsibility
include:

●
Leading the
development of qualitative and quantitative systems models that synthesize
ecological, social, economic and policy drivers of grassland conversion and
retention.

●
Designing and
facilitating participatory workshops and collaborative scenario-planning
processes with researchers and stakeholders.

●
Synthesizing
findings from project workstreams, including spatial analyses, case studies,
literature reviews and stakeholder engagement activities.

●
Co-developing
future pathways and conservation scenarios that support grassland retention and
sustainable agricultural landscapes.

●
Publishing
research findings and contributing to policy briefs, practitioner resources and
other decision-support products.

●
Collaborating
with a large interdisciplinary team spanning academic, NGO and practitioner
communities.

Anticipated Division of Time:

●
60%
Systems modeling, synthesis and scenario development

●
20%
Stakeholder engagement, workshop facilitation and collaborative planning

●
20%
Scientific writing, publication development and project coordination

Requirements:

We are seeking a
highly motivated and collaborative scholar who has:

●
A Ph.D. (completed by start date) in
natural resources, sustainability science, land systems science, geography,
complex systems science, natural resource economics, ecology, environmental
policy or a related field.

●
Strong interest and enthusiasm for
interdisciplinary research on coupled human-natural systems, conservation,
sustainability, or related topics.

●
Strong quantitative and analytical
skills, including proficiency in one or more programming environments, such as
R or Python.

●
Experience working on a project that involved
synthesis of evidence and data from multiple disciplines.

●
Experience developing or applying
systems-based approaches such as system dynamics, causal modeling, scenario
analysis, participatory modeling, agent based modeling, or related frameworks.

●
Excellent written and oral communication
skills.

●
Experience communicating scientific
concepts to diverse audiences.

●
Strong organizational and project
management skills, including the ability to work independently while
coordinating with multiple collaborators.

We are
especially interested in candidates who are:

●
Curious and eager to learn from diverse
perspectives.

●
Enthusiastic about tackling complex
socio-environmental challenges.

●
Skilled at building relationships across
disciplines, sectors and communities.

●
Comfortable facilitating conversations
among stakeholders with different goals and viewpoints.

●
Open-minded about different forms of
knowledge and evidence.

●
Motivated to produce research that can
inform real-world conservation decision-making.

Supervision Exercised:

There are no
supervisory responsibilities for this position.

To
apply:

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/33003)
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Qualified candidates
should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information
for three references via the website.

Consistent with Cornell’s practice, appointments to academic positions
require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior
employment including whether they have been found to have violated
institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful
discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial
misconduct.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable
applicant is identified.

CALS hiring
range for this title is $63,480 - $66,000.00.

College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life. Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League
and Land-grant
university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars,
students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute
creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and
engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence
includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all
counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities
engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses
on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech
campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

With a founding principle of “any
person, any study,” Cornell is an equal
opportunity employer.

Employment Assistance:

For specific questions about the position or application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or for general questions email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

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EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.