Postdocs Applying Climate Expertise

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Announcement of Opportunity for Hosting Institutions

2010

“Keeping pace with a changing climate”

The PACE Fellowship Program has been developed to encourage and build the pool of scientists qualified to transfer advances in climate science and climate prediction into climate-related decision frameworks and decision tools. (Refer to websites www.vsp.ucar.edu and www.usclivar.org for additional details and background information.)

As described in the program prospectus (in links above) the postdoctoral applicants vie for fellowships to research and develop tools that will apply climate prediction information to climate-impacted decisions. In each fellowship, the work is conducted under the specification and direction of institutional partners: a Climate-Science institution (hereafter CS partner1) and a Decision-Making institution (hereafter DM partner2). This announcement of opportunity is for such collaborating institutions that wish to host PACE fellows.

A joint statement of intent, which is coordinated between the proposing CS and the DM partners, is required. This statement of intent serves as an application on the part of the institutional partners to participate in PACE and to host a postdoctoral fellow. The statements of intent (i.e. applications), not to exceed 3 pages, will be vetted by an UCAR Oversight Committee. Acceptance of institutional partners to participate in PACE will be based on how well the statements of intent align with PACE goals and number of fellowships available according to funding. Strong preference is given to institutional partners focusing on real-time climate-impacted decisions.

The statements of intent will inform the short-listed postdoctoral candidates about the research possibilities and working arrangements that exist for each project, and serve as an agreement on the terms and commitments of the participating institutions.

Statements of Intent are accepted at any time, and should contain the following information:

Description of Partners

Describe each institution, briefly but adequately to inform the potential postdoc about the job they would be doing – what do you do, what are you about?

State the nature of current or planned institutional collaboration.

List institutional commitments of both partners (e.g., office space, administrative support, institutional affiliations, mentoring responsibilities, travel to support postdoctoral activities, etc.).

Description of the Problems, Decisions and/or Issues

List or describe the themes and problems or decisions that will be addressed.

Describe why you want to participate in the program including a discussion of near and long-term interests in climate-related issues and problems.

Indicate the anticipated outcomes and benefits of the postdoctoral project.

Mentoring Roles and Responsibilities 

List the contact individuals, including contact information. These should be the identified supervisors of the postdoc, but if they are not, list those also.

Provide a statement of agreement on mutual mentoring; including the projected schedule of how the postdoc will divide their time between institutions.

Other Issues 

Confirm commitment of matching funds from DM partner. Contact Julie Cross (303) 497-8684, or e-mail jcross@ucar.edu with questions, re: financial details and mechanisms for transferring funds.

Describe the publication policy (note that free and open publication is strongly encouraged).

Applications may be submitted in electronic form, preferably pdf, via email attachments to vspapply@ucar.edu. If unable to send electronically, please mail to:

PACE Fellowship Program

c/o UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs

P.O. Box 3000

Boulder, CO 80307-3000

For further information, call (303) 497- 8630 or e-mail vspapply@ucar.edu.

UCAR is an EO/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace.

¹ Climate Research Institutions: The CR partner should be involved in the development, production and application of climate information. Examples of such institutions include, but are not limited to, universities tied to the RISAs, Regional Climate Centers, and federal research facilities.

² Decision Making Institutions: The DM partner is involved in climate-related risk management and decision-making. Examples include national-, regional-, state-, or municipal-level agencies and organizations (public and non-profit) that manage or regulate natural resources or produce a public good. Note that the DM partner is expected to cover approximately 50% of the cost of the postdoctoral researcher.

Mission of VSP

Enhance the readiness of scientists in the atmospheric and related Earth science communities through postdoctoral fellowship and visiting scientist programs, and educational workshops that will:

•    Lead to advancements in research
•    Develop the next generation of scientists
•    Provide an efficient mechanism to facilitate collaboration and exchange of ideas

VSP partners with federal agencies, universities, and other members of the atmospheric and related Earth science communities to provide a cost-effective and efficient means to achieve each program's goals.