The Global Change Postoctoral Fellowship
We are living in an era of unprecedented environmental change. To avoid the potential collapse of social-ecological systems, we need to build a more sustainable and inclusive future. As climate change accelerates the “sixth mass extinction,” an enormous, looming question remains: how will ecosystems change and impact social systems? Answering this question requires major advances in our current understanding of the interconnections between climate, ecological, and social systems. Developing solutions will require a diversity of disciplines, lived experiences, and collaborative approaches.
A sustainable future
To build sustainable, science-based solutions, the Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship will select emerging scholars from a diversity of fields. The program will train scholars to become future leaders in research focused at the nexus of the climate-biodiversity crisis. We will recruit and support students from underrepresented backgrounds and build a supportive and inspiring environment that will enable scholars to have the greatest impact in developing real-world solutions to the climate-biodiversity crisis.
Where innovation meets solutions
Key features of the program
Foster a new generation of scholars from diverse backgrounds and perspectives;
Inspire interdisciplinary problem-solving by engaging multiple faculty;
Support solutions-oriented science and cross-agency collaboration through proactive engagement with government and non-profit organizations;
Cultivate a vibrant cohort structure that reduces typical isolation experienced by postdocs and builds a life-long community for scholars and faculty;
Offer important career development opportunities at a critical stage in scholars’ careers.
About the fellowship
The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management invites applications for the GCP Fellowship’s 2024 cohort. The successful candidates will work with a team of interdisciplinary scientists to conduct innovative research on various topics. Research topics will be wide-ranging and often at the intersection of global change ecology, hydrology, terrestrial ecology, biodiversity, and climate science, with a quantitative focus on understanding the impacts of global change on the world's terrestrial ecosystems.
The purpose of the GCP Fellowship is to foster a community of interdisciplinary postdoctoral scientists using cutting-edge analytical tools to solve some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges. During the two-year fellowship, postdoctoral scholars will interact with a team of faculty who offer distinct skill sets and perspectives through collaborative opportunities that support each postdoc’s research project and career goals.
The GCP Fellowship will invite a cohort of up to five outstanding early-career scientists from around the world to expand their research skills and become scientific leaders in their chosen field(s). We are particularly interested in scientists who are hoping to expand their skills in core disciplines relevant to global change ecology, as well as develop more interdisciplinary approaches to research. Scholars interested in contributing to a collaborative and innovative group of scholars at all career stages are encouraged to apply. Individuals that are often working on projects that advance science and have real-world impacts are also encouraged to apply.
Programming details
The interdisciplinary GCP fellowship includes the following programming:
Individual Directed Plans (IDPs) will be developed for each scholar with the team of postdoc advisors (which includes a primary advisor and at least one secondary advisor)
Annual postdoc symposium. Postdocs will present their work at the annual postdoc symposium, hosted by the fellowship for the UCSB community.
Attend biweekly (twice per month) meetings to discuss science and obtain feedback
Participate in career-relevant training, including training in interdisciplinary research tools and approaches, science communication, leadership, DEIJ workshops, and preparing for the academic and non-academic job markets.
Opportunities for leadership within the Bren School’s MESM, MEDS, and PhD programs, including advising group projects, as selected by the Fellow. The fellowship cover two years of salary and a minimum of $10,000 research funds that can be used for any research or career-related activities. Additional research funds for field work, datasets, and computing costs will also be provided by faculty mentors as needed. Each fellow will choose up to three primary academic mentors who will provide the most hands-on mentorship throughout the two-years but each fellow will ultimately be mentored by all the faculty in the fellowship.