Overview

Location: Eugene, OR

Department: The Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments
Rank: Research Assistant
Annual Basis: 12 Month

ALL applications MUST be submitted here, https://careers.uoregon.edu/en-us/job/533411/pro-tem-research-assistantassociatepostdoc-iroce-open-pool

Application Review Begins September 23, 2024; position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

To ensure consideration, please include the following with your online application:
• Current resume/CV.
• Please submit a cover letter providing detailed information on your relevant experience and what your specific interests are in the areas we work in. In the cover letter please identify which type of position you are applying for: Research Assistant, Research Associate or Postdoctoral Scholar.

Department Summary

The Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments (IROCE) is a center for innovative, interdisciplinary research at the nexus of ecological, economic, and social sustainability. The IROCE is a thriving center for collaborative research, technical assistance, and policy education. The Institute produces information to help resolve complex problems and enable people to sustain the economies and environmental systems that support their communities. Faculty in the Institute focus on a wide variety of issues including natural resource management, land use, climate change, rural development, transportation, green building, alternative energy, natural hazards, and environmental education. The IROCE has a number of program areas, including the Ecosystem Workforce Program, Disaster-Resilient Universities network, Location Innovation Lab, and several individual research initiatives.

The Ecosystem Workforce Program is an applied social science research and extension program built on the fundamental belief that ecology, economy, and governance are intimately interconnected. EWP is a joint program of the Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments at the University of Oregon and the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. This unique partnership allows Oregon’s two leading universities to collectively contribute to natural resource governance that fosters prosperity and sustainability. Together, we apply scientific expertise and leadership to produce better outcomes for land and people.

The Disaster-Resilient Universities® (DRU) network and programs are tools for solving that problem. DRU’s goal is to promote learning, collaboration, and trust-based partnerships that help members improve strategic and operational resilience on their campuses. Specifically, DRU links higher education’s skills, expertise, resources, and innovation with professional and trade organizations, businesses, and state and federal agencies. The shared goal is to strengthen overall disaster resiliency.

The Location Innovation Lab is a nationally recognized leader in designing innovative location-based software systems and developing cutting-edge, award-winning web and mobile applications – focused on applied innovations for Resilient Organizations. The LIL collaborates with other researchers on funded innovation projects and pursues the transfer of technologies to other organizations operating large campuses, through licensing agreements and other financial partnerships with industry.

Position Summary

This position with the Ecosystem Workforce Program supports a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative social science research and outreach related to landscape conservation and management, forest restoration, policy and management of public lands, and enhancing community resilience to wildfire and wildfire smoke events. These activities are designed to inform public policy, national forest management, community-based forestry, and efforts to build residence in rural and urban communities. While most of the projects focus on Oregon, the research has broad relevance across the American West. This position will be based in Eugene, Oregon with expectation of travel for fieldwork.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MA/MS (or BA/BS with at least 2 years of relevant professional experience) in applied natural resource social science in fields such as forestry, environmental studies, public policy, geography, political science, rural sociology, history, planning, anthropology or other related fields. Significant professional experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree for highly qualified individuals.

• Experience with some combination of natural resource policy and management, community-government relations, collaboration, climate change, sustainable rural development, forestry or ecology, land use or transportation policy, green building, health policy, or a related field

Professional Competencies:

• Knowledge of a variety of quantitative and qualitative social or natural science research methods, and ability to learn new methods as needs arise.

• Ability and willingness to travel regionally and nationally, including to remote, rural communities.

• Effective communications skills, including ability to write publications and documents and deliver presentations for diverse audiences.

• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently and learn new methodological skills.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and good time management.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and maintain overall program mission.

• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Specific knowledge and experience related to community-level social science research and outreach in

natural resources conservation, landscape/forest management, and wildfire.

• Demonstrated expertise in ethnographic fieldwork in rural community settings.

• Experience with graphic design and layout, preparation of reports and factsheets, and/or website design.

• Experience and knowledge of ArcPro or other GIS software.

• Experience using Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign.

• Experience and knowledge of SPSS, R or other statistical applications.