University of Washington

Description

The Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, at the University of Washington, invites applications for a non-tenure position as a Postdoctoral Scholar with expertise in data and evidence relevant to South Asia, climate and adaptive behaviors, risk, gender and agriculture. This is a full-time, twelve-month position with a possible extension dependent upon available funding and satisfactory performance in the role. The position is located at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, but will involve trips to New Delhi and possibly other South Asian locations.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will work for the Evans School Policy Analysis and Research Group (EPAR) at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. EPAR conducts rigorous interdisciplinary research on a range of topics related to agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, including small-scale producer adaptation, gender, health and nutrition, climate, and markets. EPAR research streams focus on data and measurement, use statistical, spatial, and other analytics, and promote open-access tools and programming. For more information about EPAR, please visit: https://evans.uw.edu/policy-impact/epar

The primary responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Scholar will involve a collaborative effort between the Center on Risk and Inclusion in Food Systems (CRIFS), overseen by EPAR, and the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in South Asian Agriculture (ACASA), managed by the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA). The objectives of this collaboration and position responsibilities will be the following:

• To assess agronomically feasible adaptation strategies and technologies (options and in practice), if there are gender implications, and to develop and apply an approach to quantify adaptation options using publicly available gridded data.
• To develop and apply at a gridded scale, a methodology to quantify which adaptation options will likely scale given South Asian subregional resources and technology base and its economic, social, and environmental priorities. 

Secondary responsibilities will include supporting EPAR with a risk profiles field project and several current contracts that involve risk perceptions, behavioral economics and constructing agricultural indicators associated with agricultural transformation and small-scale producer climate adaptation.

Priority skills are proficiency with Stata, and familiarity with Indian and South Asian agricultural and spatial data, particularly as it pertains to gender and climate adaptation.

This position may include preparing confidential reports for funders, public research briefs and literature reviews, public coding syntax files, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Support for presenting at conferences is available and supporting EPAR’s efforts to move technical reports to publication is a part of the position, though the range of expected activities is broader and includes support and mentoring across a team of graduate students on other EPAR projects.

Specific daily activities might include:

• Curating and analyzing panel socio-economic survey data.
• Drafting and collaborating on manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and reports.
• Preparing and delivering presentations at academic conferences and stakeholder workshops.
• Developing conceptual frameworks and assisting with evidence reviews.
• Retrieving and conducting text analysis and topic modeling on large sets of regulatory filings, grant documents, and government regulatory and policy documents.
• Collaborating with and mentoring graduate student researchers on research and analysis.

Training in economics is desirable, particularly if paired with other data science or modeling skills. Other quantitative social scientists are also invited to apply with a background in agriculture and statistics. Candidates whose backgrounds or experience have provided them with knowledge of agriculture, gender, and climate in India and/or South Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.

The base salary range for this position will be $5,800 - $7,200 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. 

A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

For questions, please reach out to Yvette Gutierrez-Morfin at yvettejg@uw.edu

Qualifications

• Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in agricultural economics or equivalent. Candidates should be no more than five years removed from completing doctoral-level training.
• Experience with Indian or South Asian household data.
• Knowledge of gender, agricultural and climate adaptation challenges and evidence in South Asia
• Excellent writing, research, and analysis skills.
• Good organizational and project management skills.
• Strong statistical/econometric skills.
• Experience with Stata and spatial mapping software.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and on research teams.

Application Instructions

Initial review will begin Feb. 01, 2024, and continue until the position is successfully filled. To be considered for this position, please submit the following materials:

1. Cover letter briefly describing your interest in the UW Postdoctoral Scholar position, your qualifications for the position, and your professional development goals.
2. Current resume or CV.
3. Three names and contact information for references. At least one reference must be an academic reference from your doctoral dissertation committee. Letters of reference will be requested for shortlisted candidates.
4. A recent sole-authored writing sample.
5. Copies of transcripts and/ or proof of academic good standing (transcript of highest degree conferred; proof of academic good standing on official letterhead and signed by the graduate program director, advisor, or equivalent).
6. Copies of official GRE score documents if not included on your transcript.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Benefits Information

A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

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Disability Services

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.