The Gibbs Land Use and Environment Group (GLUE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks an exceptional Post-Doctoral Research Associate. The researcher will help lead a large project investigating outcomes of zero-deforestation commitments for soy and cattle in collaboration with other organizations in the U.S. and Brazil.
The candidate will join a thriving and interdisciplinary team that integrates novel property-level mapping approaches, econometrics, and field surveys to improve our understanding of changing land use in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado. We aim to produce high quality and actionable research that can be readily applied by industry, policymakers, and other academics to understand supply chain traceability and governance. Key responsibilities for this position include leading a team to survey cattle ranchers in Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes, and mapping the full cattle supply chain and industry expansion. The successful candidate will also be proactive in writing scientific papers and otherwise disseminating results to broad audiences of academics and other stakeholders by presenting at conferences and participating in relevant multi-stakeholder meetings. Ideal qualifications include some of the following: - Fluency in Portuguese and English and excellent written and oral communication skills - Experience designing farmer surveys and leading field research campaigns - Knowledge of and interest in cattle and soy production in Brazil - Analytical skills such as econometrics, statistics, or GIS would be a plus - Strong organizational and project management skills - Ph.D. in Geography, Environmental Studies, Economics, Sociology, or a related field (M.S. plus extensive research experience will also be considered) The one-year position will begin after Jan 30, 2016 with potential renewal for up to two additional years (contingent on funding availability and performance). Salary for this full-time position will be $45,000 per year, plus health insurance benefits. GLUE is a vibrant and energetic research group, with strong experience working in Brazil. Madison is widely recognized for its warm and international community, high quality of life, culture and arts scene, and easy access to natural areas. Costs of living are moderate, and public transportation and bicycle paths are easy transportation options. For more information: http://www.gibbs-lab.com/recent-publications Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment: http://www.sage.wisc.edu To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing qualifications and interest, CV, and phone and email addresses of three references to Holly Gibbs hkgi...@wisc.edu. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Application deadline is Dec 20, 2015 or until position is filled.
