Position Information

Position Information

Present Position Number G0064V Role Title Postdoctoral Research Associate Position Title Postdoctoral Research Associate in Communicating Science Position Summary

REPOSTED: The deadline for submitted applications is May 31, 2019. All those who previously applied need not apply.

Virginia Sea Grant (VASG) and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science (Alda Center) at Stony Brook University are excited to announce a joint Postdoctoral Associate in Communicating Science position, with an emphasis on climate change and resilience in coastal communities. Located in the VASG office at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, VA, the Postdoctoral Associate will collaborate closely with the Alda Center, VASG faculty, and staff while periodically traveling to Stony Brook, NY. The Postdoctoral Associate will conduct research as well as design, test, and deliver training in the Virginia and mid-Atlantic regions. The position is a two-year term, renewable for up to three years.

This Postdoctoral position is designed to advance science communication research. The opening will help create new training modules – training the next generation of coastal and marine scientists, engineers, designers, lawyers, planners and other technical specialists towards communicating with policy and management decision-makers, stakeholders, citizens. This Postdoctoral Associate will focus on the areas of resilience, climate change communication, and developing research projects designed to advance the Alda Center’s science communication training methods in the Hampton Roads area. Specifically, the successful candidate will:

●Receive support to become a certified Alda Science Communication Trainer
●Conduct research in the field of science communication, including conducting literature reviews, and collecting and analyzing data.
●Collaborating with the Alda Center and VASG faculty and staff – design, deliver, and test new workshop curriculum that are tailored for resilience and climate change topics for VASG fellows, Virginia and the mid-Atlantic regions.
●Deliver 5-10 workshop days per year for the Alda Center and VASG, focused on Virginia and the mid-Atlantic.
●Participate and assist with manuscript writing for publications in scientific journals and presentations; may also assist in grant writing.
●Participate in planning discussions with leadership from VASG and the Alda Center on integrating communication training into the team science capacity-building programs at VASG, and scaling up the application of Alda Method ® climate and resilience training to a broader geographic scope.

The Alda Method® combines improvisational theater techniques that help scientists, engineers, and other technical experts to pay dynamic attention to the needs of their listeners and learn to spontaneously adjust to their audience. This approach integrates techniques to help experts distill their message, shape compelling stories, create common ground, and use conversational language that fosters genuine human connections. The successful candidate will support the Alda Center’s and VASG’s commitment to advancing research-based science communication curriculum. The Postdoctoral Associate will focus on the area of resilience and climate change communication through developing research projects designed to advance the Alda Center’s and VASG’s communication training methods in this area. The training experience will enable the incumbent to conduct research on science communication in the context of real-world application in Virginia and the mid-Atlantic.

The position will work in VASG offices at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, and have a professional mentoring committee composed of Laura Lindenfeld (Director of the Alda Center), Troy Hartley (Director of VASG), the Alda Center and VASG collaborators in science communication and team science.

Required Qualifications

●Ph.D. in Communication, Mass Communication, Journalism, or other relevant fields such as social psychology, psychology, sociology, political science, or education in hand by date of appointment.
●Experience designing and conducting research
●Experience conducting workshops or teaching courses
●Demonstrated experience in coastal, marine, environmental communication – including content related to climate change
●Ability to communicate research results to both expert and non-expert audiences
●Excellent English writing and presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

●Expertise in social network analysis, science of team science, community engagement, or message framing
●Demonstrated enthusiasm for coastal, marine and environmental issues – including resilience and climate change in coastal communities.
●High levels of proficiency in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods social science or educational research
●Experience designing new curriculum
●Experience conducting workshops or teaching courses at the graduate level, or experienced professionals in coastal, marine or environmental fields, including public, private and non-profit sectors
●Proficiency in data and project management
●Experience with grant writing and management
●Previous experience working as part of a team, including multi-disciplinary research teams

Department VA Sea Grant Office - 112100 Location VIMS - Gloucester Job Open Date 10/18/2018 Review Begin Date 02/15/2019 Job Close Date 05/31/2019 Open Until Filled No Job Category Instructional Faculty Special Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a:
•A 1-2 page statement of potential research ideas related to communicating science, particularly involving coastal climate change information, and training involving graduate students and climate scientists, managers and staff addressing coastal and marine issues.
•Cover letter that speaks to the candidate’s interest in the position and qualifications as well as identifies the timeline for PhD completion and/or availability for this position.
•Resume/CV
•Contact information for three (3) references

Background Check Statement

The College of William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

EEO Statement

The College of William & Mary values diversity and invites applications from underrepresented groups who will enrich the research, teaching and service missions of the university. The College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Other Doc

Optional Documents