How to apply

The Bren Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship invites proposals for the 2024 cohort.

We are seeking innovative thinkers with a strong quantitative background. The position offers thematic flexibility and candidates should develop a proposal in one or more of the following areas:

  • Biodiversity responses to anthropogenic activities

  • Human-wildlife coexistence

  • Climate change impacts in terrestrial ecosystems

  • Tipping points, ecosystem transformations, range shifts

  • Applications of causal inference in ecology

  • Disturbance regimes under climate change

Requirements:

  • Ph.D. in an environmentally-related field

  • Strong publication record

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team

  • Excellent communication skills and motivation to collaborate with researchers from different disciplines

Due date:

All application materials must be submitted electronically by December 1, 2023. Please apply HERE.

Please prepare the following documents:

  1. One page cover letter explaining your past research experience, career goals, background, and the motivation that drives your career. 

  2. One page research plan explaining the goals and objectives of your postdoctoral research, including a brief overview of the background, hypotheses, methods, expected results, and Bren faculty academic advising committee.

  3. CV with three references. Letters will be requested if you are invited to interview.

Selection criteria and process:

Fellows will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

  1. Strength of the research proposal;

  2. Past record of collaborative, productive research;

  3. Demonstrated understanding of the barriers underrepresented groups in higher education, including, but not limited to, life experiences and advocacy

  4. Record of service and leadership activities in programs and efforts that support historically excluded groups in academia;

  5. Research fit (i.e., the proposed research topic would benefit from collaboration with Bren faculty);

  6. Record of high academic achievement by overcoming various academic barriers, including socio-economic hardships, educational and cultural disadvantages, and active exclusion faced by many identities.

We will begin reviewing applications on November 1. If you are invited for a zoom interview, we will request letters of reference following your zoom interview. The scholars will be selected by March 1 and all candidates will be notified about the status of their application by April 1. 

For specific questions, please reach out to Bruce Kendall: kendall@bren.ucsb.edu