Details and Application Guidelines
Postdoctoral fellows will undertake independent social, environmental, or cyberinfrastructure synthesis projects that are consistent with the mission of SESYNC. Socio-environmental synthesis research distills or integrates data, ideas, theories, or methods from a variety of sources in order to address an environmental issue that requires synthetic knowledge, which has not emerged using traditional disciplinary methods or data from single investigations or project sources. Synthesis research may be used to draw more reliable conclusions or it may be used to open doors to novel areas of study. SESYNC postdocs may wish to use or develop new theoretical, analytical or computational approaches to address important questions or may spend their time addressing questions or developing applications that draw on data or ideas aggregated from many sources, many researchers or multiple fields of inquiry. SESYNC offers substantial computational support for post-doctoral researchers. Therefore, applicants need not have all the technical skills necessary to aggregate, manage, or use large-scale data sets when they begin their SESYNC research. Research activities related to the aggregation of different data sets, especially if it is then made available to other researchers is one important aspect of synthesis. However, transformational socio-environmental synthesis also may employ a diverse array of theoretical and methodological approaches to achieving synthesis e.g., cultural analytics; scenario studies; design and planning research; interview and survey-based research; focus ground techniques; game theory; grounded theory; synthesis of ethnographic studies; dialectal research; organizational theory; cross-system synthesis of land-use change; mathematical (analytic) modeling; simulation/computational modeling. Since SESYNC is dedicated to fostering actionable science, proposed synthesis research could involve stakeholder engagement as well as collaborative decision-making processes. Postdoctoral researchers should not propose projects that require extensive collection of new data that will take them away from the center, nor should they rely entirely on material from their prior work. Applicants may have received their PhD in ANY area of research relevant to socio-environmental synthesis or synthesis education, including ecology, economics, geography, political science, mathematics/statistics/computer science, public policy, planning, sociology, anthropology, etc.
Postdoctoral applications will be ranked with regard to their:
- explanation of why their research topic will advance actionable knowledge on the structure, function, or sustainability of socio-environmental systems;
- novelty, creativity, and/or urgency of the proposed activities;
- feasibility to produce meaningful synthetic research within a 2 year time frame including identifying and showing ability to access appropriate data;
- potential to contribute to other research activities at the center, such as showing how research could contribute to ongoing themes;
- qualifications and experience of the applicant; and
- an explanation of why SESYNC is the most appropriate way to support the activity.
Appointments will be through the University of Maryland and awardees will have offices in our newly established facilities in Annapolis, Maryland. Depending on their research interests, fellows may also opt to spend part of their time at the offices of our partner organization, Resources for the Future, located in downtown Washington, D.C SESYNC provides an annual stipend, full University of Maryland employee fringe benefits, and a small annual travel allowance to attend meetings or collaborate. Postdoctoral fellowships are for up to two years and include structured mentoring programs, facilitated access to policy makers, and opportunities to participate in ongoing center activities both locally and internationally. Fellows will have two mentors which will be assigned following award of the fellowship – a professional mentor on-site at SESYNC and a domain mentor at a SESYNC partner institution. Because SESYNC fellows are independent researchers, domain mentors will be identified following award of fellowships and need not be included in the project summary. There are two application deadlines: October 15 (for positions to begin in mid January) and March 1 (for positions to begin late August) EXCEPT IN 2012, when we will accept applications January 31 and October 15.
Components of a Postdoc Application
Include the following using single spacing, 12-pt type fonts, and 1 inch margins.
Cover sheet (1 page)
- Descriptive Title (“SESYNC Postdoc: ….”)
- Short Title (25 characters max)
- Name and contact information
- Project Summary (250 words) - appropriate for the public; posted on the SESYNC web site
- Keywords (up to 5 keywords different from those used in the title)
- Proposed start and end dates
- Potential conflicts of interest with members of the SESYNC External Advisory Board or Leadership
Main body (5 pages max including references)
- Problem statement - Clear and concise statement of the project goals including how it will advance socio-environmental synthesis and/or contribute to actionable socio-environmental synthesis science or policy
- How the proposed project/activities will make use of SESYNC’s opportunities to enhance the scholar’s career and why SESYNC is the most appropriate place to undertake the work.
- Collaborative SESYNC interests to pursue while in residence.
Anticipated cyber-infrastructure needs (1 page or less)
- Briefly describe any anticipated needs for CI support that are important to the success of your proposed research, including support for coding, high performance computing, data aggregation and fusion, visualization, and development and maintenance of public databases.
Full CV of the Applicant including names and contact information for three references
Please arrange for each reference to provide a letter of recommendation regarding your background and ability to carry out the independent research as proposed, and your ability to engage in collaborative research as part of SESYNC community. These letters should be submitted by email to separately from your application. All letters of recommendation should be submitted before the application deadline.
Application and Submission Process
Applications should be submitted as a single pdf file including cover sheet, main body, cyber-infrasture needs and CV. Because of varying visa requirements, potential international Postdoctoral Fellows should contact us before applying. Submit application to