From: "Miles, Wendy" <wendy.miles@piccc.net>
Subject: Post-doc on Migration in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands and its links to
Climate Change
Date: July 1, 2016 5:31:31 PM PDT
To: Wendy Miles <wendy.miles@piccc.net>
1 Attachment - see pages 3 and 4
Aloha,
http://www.pacificrisa.org/2016/07/05/postdoctoral-researchassociate-position-climate-and-human-migration/
Apologies for cross-posting. Attached is information on a post-doc opportunity that examines the
interplay between climate change and human migration in the U.S. Pacific Islands. The post-doc is
made possible by the Environmental Law Program at the William S. Richardson School of Law
(University of Hawai'i), the Pacific Islands Climate Science Center (https://www.doi.gov/csc/pacific),
and the Pacific RISA program (http://www.pacificrisa.org/). Applications should be emailed to Maxine
Burkett at burkettm@hawaii.edu, and are due on July 31, 2016.
Best regards,
Wendy
-Wendy Miles, PhD
Adaptation Initiatives Project Manager
Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative
677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 320, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-687-6151 (office) | 808-690-7932 (mobile)
wendy.miles@piccc.net | piccc.net | lcc.network.org
--------------
*Apologies for Cross-Posting*
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Subject: Migration in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, its links to climate change and climate
variability, and its potential impact on Hawai‘i, Guam, and the continental U.S.
Summary:
The Environmental Law Program at the William S. Richardson School of Law seeks a social scientist to
play a key role in research examining migration in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, its links to climate
change and climate variability, and its potential impact on Hawai‘i, Guam, and the continental U.S. This
research is funded by the Pacific Islands Climate Science Center and will provide a core component of
the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (Pacific RISA) program, one of ten US RISA
programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Pacific RISA program strives to enhance Pacific communities’ abilities to understand, plan for, and
respond to changing climate conditions. The program coordinates interdisciplinary climate research,
assessment, education, and training in the US Pacific Islands region, emphasizing the engagement of
communities, governments, and businesses in developing effective policies to build resilience in key
sectors.
This project identifies and employs pioneering social science methods and mapping techniques to test the
extent to which internal and cross-border migration in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands is linked to
climate variability and climate events.
The results will provide decision makers critical information to help them craft policy and take action to
avoid haphazard migration and potential crises as climate change worsens.
A key component of this research is an in-depth study of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI),
examining recent trends in migration, both internal to RMI and from the nation-state to Hawai‘i, Guam
and the continental U.S., specifically Arkansas. The case study will combine quantitative and qualitative
analysis to identify factors driving migration in RMI and examine the direct and indirect links between
patterns of migration and climate events and impacts. Specific methods include (i) analysis of census
data, published literature, policy, and organizational documents and (ii) surveys and focus groups.
Position Description
Postdoctoral Research Associate
The Environmental Law Program at the William S. Richardson School of Law seeks a social scientist to play a key role in
research examining migration in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, its links to climate change and climate variability, and
its potential impact on Hawai‘i, Guam, and the continental U.S. This research is funded by the Pacific Islands Climate
Science Center and will provide a core component of the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (Pacific
RISA) program, one of ten US RISA programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Pacific RISA program strives to enhance Pacific communities’ abilities to understand, plan for, and respond to
changing climate conditions. The program coordinates interdisciplinary climate research, assessment, education, and
training in the US Pacific Islands region, emphasizing the engagement of communities, governments, and businesses in
developing effective policies to build resilience in key sectors.
This project identifies and employs pioneering social science methods and mapping techniques to test the extent to which
internal and cross-border migration in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands is linked to climate variability and climate events.
The results will provide decision makers critical information to help them craft policy and take action to avoid haphazard
migration and potential crises as climate change worsens.
A key component of this research is an in-depth study of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), examining recent
trends in migration, both internal to RMI and from the nation-state to Hawai‘i, Guam and the continental U.S., specifically
Arkansas. The case study will combine quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify factors driving migration in RMI
and examine the direct and indirect links between patterns of migration and climate events and impacts. Specific methods
include (i) analysis of census data, published literature, policy, and organizational documents and (ii) surveys and focus
groups.
Duties
The Postdoctoral Research Associate will provide support to the project Principal Investigator and lead and manage the
case study investigation of motivations for current internal and cross-border migration in the Republic of the Marshall
Islands. Specific duties include:
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Review published literature and census data
Design survey instruments and interview questionnaires
Lead data collection onsite in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and possibly in Hawai‘i
Review data
Develop map products integrating social and demographic data with historic climate data and climate modeling
outputs and scenarios
Author a report on the results of the case study and prepare a manuscript to submit for publication in a peer-reviewed
journal
Develop outreach materials and policy-relevant reports tailored to decision makers, in collaboration with legal
researchers
Supervise student research assistants
Minimum qualifications
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PhD in a relevant field (human geography, anthropology, sociology, or behavioral science)
Demonstrated experience conducting mixed-method quantitative and qualitative social science research
Experience in theory and practice of naturalistic inquiry. Ethnographic methods including interviews, focus
groups, naturalistic observation. Case studies. Analysis of qualitative data. Issues of validity and generalizability
in qualitative research.
Experience with data analysis software- a minimum of statistical methods that covered testing the difference
between two means and linear regression.
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Experience in spatial data and its analysis, as well as the modeling of spatially dependent social processes and
policy problems. Researcher is required to extract quantitative information from spatial data for applied research
and public policy.
Solid grasp of spatial statistics, spatially dependent simulation, and spatial optimization.
Exceptional writing and communication skills (in the English language)
Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work in teams
Ability to work independently
Respect for and desire to support Pacific Island languages, cultures, and traditions
Desirable qualifications
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Experience with technical project management, especially logistics for multi-country field work
Experience mentoring students
Knowledge of climate change issues in Hawai‘i and the Pacific
Position details
The position starts on [September 1, 2016], and pays a stipend of $60,000-65,000 per annum (depending on
qualifications), including reimbursement for healthcare (to be purchased separately by candidate). The position is fulltime for two years September 2016 – August 2018]. The postdoc will be based on the island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i. Work
will be conducted independently, with regularly scheduled in-person meetings with team members on the University of
Hawai‘i’s Mānoa campus (located in Honolulu, HI).
Post Doctoral Mentoring Plan
A Post Doctoral Mentoring Plan will be developed with Maxine Burkett (PI) to establish the guidelines for work to be
performed by postdoctoral fellows. Post Docs will be guided in developing an individual development plan (IDP)1, which
will be used to determine mutual goals, activities to attain those goals, and metrics to evaluate progress and success.
Elements of the mentoring plan are detailed below.
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Structured mentoring
Networking
Analytical skills
Writing
Communication
Career skills
Application process
Interested candidates should send a short cover letter (by email) outlining research interests, motivation, and research
experience, together with a CV, at least two academic references, and academic transcript to burkettm@hawaii.edu by
July 31, 2016.
http://www.pacificrisa.org/2016/07/05/postdoctoral-research-associate-positionclimate-and-human-migration/
1
FASEB Science Policy Committee (2010). Individual Development Plan for Postdoctoral Fellows. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
(FASEB)’s Science Policy Committee.