Post-doctoral Position Available: Interdisciplinary Analysis of Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Alaska
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as lower latitudes with far-reaching consequences for access to energy and mineral resources, global trade and tourism routes, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and human health and safety. Impacts of the changing Arctic are particularly salient for the region’s Indigenous peoples. The need for integrated, transdisciplinary research to better understand social and economic impacts and potential opportunities from climate change for Alaska is critically needed. Despite this need, there has been little work done to assess the economic costs and benefits of Arctic change, especially with regard to impacts in Alaska, or the value of existing federal and state services and products. Given that impacts and associated costs arise at scales ranging from the local to the global, there is a spectrum of opportunities for theory building and methods development that can only be accomplished through the deep integration of disciplines. This work is critical for meeting pressing societal needs and to inform decisions and policy.
The Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (a NOAA Regional Integrated Science and Assessment team) seeks a post-doctoral research fellow to explore the social and economic impacts of climate change in Alaska from an interdisciplinary perspective. Possible sectors of analysis include but are not limited to fisheries (including ocean acidification), transportation (and trans-Arctic shipping), infrastructure, mineral, oil & gas resource development, mixed-subsistence economies, and the provision of related climate services. We are also interested in an analysis of the economic impacts of ACCAP’s work.
Based in the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF), ACCAP specializes in interdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement to meet the science and information needs related to climate change in Alaska.
This post-doctoral fellowship includes opportunities to directly engage ACCAP’s partners and stakeholders in use-inspired basic research and knowledge co-production. The person in this position will work closely in an interdisciplinary team environment that includes a spectrum of senior scientists, junior scientists, graduate students, and research professionals. Collaborating organizations include the Center for Arctic Policy Studies (CAPS) at UAF, the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and other ACCAP partner organizations.
Desired state date: Negotiable. As soon as possible.
Duration: 2 year, term funded
Location: International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Open until filled.
To apply submit CV, contact information for three references, and a cover letter to Sarah Trainor <sarah.trainor@alaska.edu> with “Econ Post-Doc Application” in the subject line. The cover letter should include a description of the candidate’s PhD research, a statement of interest outlining potential research project, including sectors of interest, and research approach, and past experience with research in Alaska and/or the Arctic.
UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination/.