Postbaccalaureate Fellows in Climate Change & Environmental Justice Pool
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: March 1, 2024
Next review date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Friday, May 31, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Call for Applicants: Postbaccalaureate Fellows in Climate Change & Environmental Justice Pool
The University of California, Irvine is seeking applicants for six postbaccalaureate (postbac) fellowships in climate change, environmental justice, and community-engaged research. Fellows will join the UCI CLIMATE Justice Initiative (CJI), which seeks to develop a Cultural, Learning, and Institutional Model to Accelerate Transformations for Environmental Justice (CLIMATE Justice). Fellows will be hired as full-time Junior Specialists with an annual salary of $53,100 (see full salary scale here) for a one-year appointment that includes generous benefits. The desired start date is September 1, 2024.
CLIMATE Justice Postbac Fellows will:
● Learn new technical skills and gain hands-on research experience with UCI faculty who are working on cutting-edge climate research.
● Work with community partners on co-designed projects that address environmental justice issues.
● Attend workshops and classes on environmental justice and community-engaged research methods.
● Be guided by a diverse network of mentors.
● Participate in professional development activities designed to help you achieve your career goals, whether that be entering the job market or pursuing graduate studies.
● Be part of a diverse and multi-disciplinary community of students, researchers, faculty, and staff dedicated to centering social and environmental justice in climate change research.
● Receive a Certificate in Climate Change and Environmental Justice upon completion of the one-year program.
The CLIMATE Justice initiative strives to foster an inclusive and collaborative working environment that welcomes diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We strongly encourage applications from members of historically marginalized communities, and graduates from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). We also encourage applications from those who have had limited opportunities to participate in research or professional development activities during their undergraduate studies.
About the CLIMATE Justice Initiative:
UCI’s CLIMATE Justice Initiative aims to culturally transform the geosciences through multidirectional programming that brings on-the-ground challenges of environmental justice and sustainability into the heart of geoscience research and education. The specific project objectives are to: 1) Train and empower postbaccalaureate and PhD students from historically marginalized communities to pursue graduate education and careers related to climate change, 2) Increase participation of scientists from traditional STEM disciplines in environmental justice and community-engaged research, 3) Build strong cross-disciplinary collaborations between geoscientists and experts from other fields, such as social science, 4) Develop equitable partnerships with community-based organizations, and 5) Transform the culture of geoscience by building a learning ecosystem that spans traditional institutional, disciplinary, and hierarchical boundaries. The project is funded through the US National Science Foundation’s Cultural Transformations in the Geoscience Community program.
About UCI:
The Department of Earth System Science (ESS), founded in 1995, is the first US university department dedicated to understanding the Earth as a coupled system. Current departmental research focuses on environmental and climate science, including biogeochemistry of the land, ocean and atmosphere; climate dynamics; atmospheric science; ecosystems; glaciology and cryosphere science; and human systems. The ESS mission is to contribute through research and teaching to a fundamental scientific understanding of the Earth as a coupled system, to train the next generation of Earth scientists, and to inform and educate policy makers and the public-at-large. We envision a society that understands the impact of human activities on the global environment and the interactions within the Earth system that preserve the habitability of the planet. Inclusive Excellence is a core value of the Department of Earth System Science and we aim to foster a positive, inclusive, and healthy climate for all of our departmental members.
The Research Justice Shop (RJS), co-founded in 2018 and housed in the Newkirk Center for Science & Society, seeks to transform research practices to be more inclusive by facilitating equitable collaboration between the university and the communities most impacted by our collective social and environmental problems. We do this by collaborating with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-led and BIPOC-serving community-based organizations. As such, the RJS contributes to UC Irvine’s aspiration to be a Minority Thriving Institution, a great partner to Orange County’s diverse communities, and at the forefront of interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research. RJS trains individuals and organizations in research justice and community-based research methods; we consult on and implement community engagement strategies and conduct research projects that use community-based research methods such as participatory action research and photovoice; we also study community-campus partnerships and the pedagogy of engaged scholarship.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of hiring):
● Completed a B.S. or B.A. degree within the past 2 years (2023 or 2024) in a relevant field (e.g. geoscience, earth system science, climate science, environmental science & policy, geography, civil and environmental engineering, hydrology, ecology, atmospheric chemistry, urban planning, public health, etc.)
● Interest in pursuing a career and/or graduate studies related to climate science and policy, environmental justice, geoscience, and/or climate change adaptation & mitigation
● Interest in collaborating with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-led and BIPOC-serving community-based organizations on community-based research projects.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume that includes the following sections: Personal information (name, email, phone, address, etc.); Education information (year of degree, college name, major); Research experience in previous courses or jobs (if applicable); Skills background (computer, lab, field, language, or other skills); Honors or scholarships; Previous work experience; Service, education, or volunteer work (e.g. tutoring, teaching, outreach, etc
Cover Letter - Cover letter (one page) explaining your relevant background, your interest in this opportunity, and your immediate and long-term career goals
Unofficial transcripts - from any undergraduate institutions attended.
Essay Questions - Essay Questions: Please respond to the following prompts and submit as a single document (recommended length: 100-200 words each).
a. Describe the areas of research that interest you most, your personal goals for the internship, and indicate your preference for working in office, lab, and/or field settings. In your response, you may reflect on the CJI/RJS community-based research current project partnerships and themes (optional):
b. Write about what your career goals are and how participating in this postbac program will help you meet these goals.
c. Please describe what social and environmental justice mean to you. Use a specific example, if possible.
d. What perspectives, skills, or abilities would you bring to the CLIMATE Justice initiative? These could be related to your experience in school, your past work or volunteer experiences, or your lived experience.
e. The CLIMATE Justice Initiative is dedicated to enhancing the diversity of future scientific communities and sharing our science with a broader audience. Please describe how you, based on your personal background and life experiences (including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges) will contribute to this mission during and after participation in the program.Sexual Misconduct, Harassment and Discrimination Declaration Form - All applicants of academic positions at the University of California, Irvine must download, complete, sign, and upload the following form with their application: Sexual Misconduct, Harassment and Discrimination Declaration Form
- 2-3 required (contact information only)
Two letters of recommendation from those who can speak to your academic background, research potential, and overall suitability for the program.
About UC Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.