Postdoctoral Researcher

Louisiana State University • Wabash, IN

1d

About The Position

This post-doc position will work closely with the established MissDelta project (see here: https://missdelta.org/) to support the social science/co-production team in engaging with diverse stakeholders, including residents, government agencies, and industry representatives in lower Plaquemines Parish, LA. This position will play a pivotal role as a "boundary spanner," bridging the gap between academic research and practical application. This involves translating complex scientific models and data on MS River delta's evolution, subsidence rates, and environmental stressors into accessible, user-friendly tools like interactive maps, forecasting dashboards, or decision-support platforms. The post-doc's role would be to actively listen to the needs and concerns of the community, ensuring products address real-world challenges, such as impacts on fishing livelihoods, navigation, and flood risk. S/he will incorporate diverse forms of knowledge, including the local knowledge from the established Environmental Competency Group (i.e. local and scientific knowledge collaboration), to create more holistic and robust scientific models and management strategies for the region.

Requirements

• Terminal Degree in Geography, Environmental Planning, Landscape Architecture, Coastal Science, or a related discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D and 1-3 years of experience in Geography, Environmental Planning, Landscape Architecture, Coastal Science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience working with stakeholders and research teams on project coordination and development. Demonstrated understanding of both social and environmental sciences. Demonstrated project management and grant management experience. Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Co-production: Develop co-production workplans for each of the academic modeling and field teams (6-8), including detailed concept models and gantt charts. Monitor these workplan on a biweekly basis. Engage the Environmental Competency Group (ECG) (e.g. researchers and local knowledge experts) regularly to organize and execute a systematic approach to local knowledge integration based on the discrete needs of each team across the consortium and the ECG itself. (40%)
• Support Participatory modeling: Maintain systematic approaches to internal coordination with the MissDelta modeling teams to efficiently test model data sets and integrate model outputs into the co-production processes. This will require regular coordination with each MissDelta modeling team and tracking integration of local knowledge into models and share with co-production team. Coordinate the handoff of co-produced data (synthesized data and key takeaways and recommendations) from the ECG meetings back to the modeling and field teams for integration. (20%)
• Support development of management alternatives: Participate with the larger MissDelta team in the development of management alternatives based on model outputs and ECG priorities. Meet with MissDelta project leadership to understand the proposed set of alternatives that are viable from an engineering and fiscal point of view in order to support ECG evaluation of management scenarios. (20%)
• Support internal coordination: Attend co-production biweekly meetings, ECG meetings in Plaquemines Parish, all modeling and field team meetings; identify, design, and implement, supplemental co-production activities (e.g. 1:1 meetings and working sessions with stakeholders and data end users) in partnership with the co-production team when necessary. (15%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Benefits

• LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees