Racial Justice & Global Change - DU IRISE Post-Doctoral Fellow

The University of Denver Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (In)Equality (IRISE: https://irise.du.edu/) is seeking a postdoctoral research fellow to join an interdisciplinary team of scholars and practitioners for two years, starting August 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025. 

Position Summary 

Under the guidance and mentorship of a team of faculty working at the intersection of sustainability and social justice, the postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to pursue an inter- and trans-disciplinary approach to examining climate (in)justice. We are especially interested in scholars working in collaboration with community partners to explore and address the impacts of climate change on the health and well-being of natural and human systems vis-a-vis racially minoritized communities. The position will provide experiences in research, teaching, and service, and prepare the fellow to pursue a professional trajectory including, but not limited to, tenure-track appointment in the academy. 

Essential Functions 

Research: 

• The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to join and grow one of the preexisting DU faculty/community-engaged projects in the service of climate and environmental justice. On-going projects at DU in which a post-doctoral fellow could apply their research expertise include: IRISE’s Color of Water project, the Environmental Policy and Justice Research Group, or the University of Denver’s Grand Challenges Urban Sustainability Initiative, among others.   
• We do not expect the candidate to have experience in all areas of the fellowship, as training will be provided by the mentors, and the fellow will join one or more teams as appropriate.  
• The fellow will be housed in the appropriate academic department and will primarily engage in independent research, scholarship, and creative work under the guidance of departmental faculty and the interdisciplinary team. 
• The search will be led by Drs. Rebecca Powell and Tom Romero, who will then work to identify appropriate mentorship, collaboration, and training opportunities for the selected fellow, depending upon their area of expertise. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, environmental sciences and policy, ecology, environmental chemistry, geography and geospatial sciences, hydrology, political science, sociology, anthropology, and race and ethnic studies. The mentorship team will provide unique perspectives, approaches, and training that will advance the fellow’s development as a scholar researching racial inequity at the intersection of STEM and Social Science disciplines. 
• The fellow will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and graduate students in the appropriate departments and the greater DU community. The fellow will also receive clerical and research support (e.g., grant writing support, professional development workshops). 

Teaching: 

• The fellow will teach one course (either independently or in collaboration with DU faculty) in the 2023-24 academic year and two courses in the 2024-2025 academic year on topic that will satisfy requirements for DU’s Critical Race and Ethnic Studies minor or related topics on racial inequality in DU’s sustainability curriculum, spread across multiple colleges. 
• Fellows will have access to resources and training, particularly to inclusive pedagogical practices, through the University of Denver’s Office of Teaching and Learning. 

Service: 

• The fellow will work closely with IRISE to develop as a campus leader and to thereby extend the impact of DU faculty and students on issues of racial (in)equity. Specifically, the fellow will have opportunities to collaborate on the vision, design, and implementation of IRISE programming related to their research areas each year. 
• The successful candidate will also be expected to actively participate in and support IRISE’s intellectual life and various other partner initiatives (e.g., Grand Challenges, the Center for Sustainability) in amplifying their role as a scholar confronting racial inequality in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West. 
• The fellow will also participate with the DU Mobilizing Equity to Raise Inclusivity in STEM (MERISTEM)—a program funded by the NSF ADVANCE: Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Positions. Among other goals, this initiative will support professional development for academics at DU in the STEM fields, while working on systemic change to identify and mitigate barriers, particularly for those with intersectional identities. 

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in environmental sciences and policy, ecology, environmental chemistry, geography and geospatial sciences, hydrology, political science, sociology, anthropology, race and ethnic studies, or related fields. Applicants must have completed all requirements for their Ph.D. by the start date.
• Interest in pursuing research that integrates critical racial and ethnic scholarship and methodologies.
• Strong methodological training.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equality and social justice.
• Interest in pursuing critical interdisciplinary research, teaching, and service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Because of the value of lived experiences in the investigation and understanding of racial inequality, we especially encourage applications from racially as well as gender minoritized groups.
• A record of successful publication in a related field.
• We do not expect the candidate to have experience in all areas of the fellowship, as training will be provided by the mentors.

Working Environment

When working on campus, the employee should expect:

1. Standard office environment. 2. Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high. 3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

This position does offer hybrid options. Some meetings may be held virtually. In-person scheduling will be discussed and finalized between the employee and supervising team. Some attendance at in-person IRISE events will be required. Additionally, courses are currently being instructed in-person on the University of Denver campus.

Work Schedule

Varied. University of Denver hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 13th, 2023.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 8.

Salary Range:
In accordance with the NIH guidelines the salary for this position is $54,840.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. CV
2. Cover Letter that addresses the required qualifications of the job description and any additional qualifications relevant to the position; how the candidates research agenda, skills and expertise are connected to understanding issues of racial and social inequity and climate change; and how their work might integrate with one or more existing projects and initiatives at DU.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.