Postdoctoral Scholar - The FEWSION Project

Special Information

This position is subject to the availability of funding. This is a 24 month long position. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.

Job Description

The FEWSION Project (FEWSION) at Northern Arizona University (NAU) is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar to study systems-level properties of global-to-local food, energy, and water supply chains. We are seeking applicants excited about integrating disciplines to develop new knowledge about how the people, places, and things in our economy are interconnected with the environment. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work on two recently funded research projects. The first project, funded by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), focuses on developing novel artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) methods to identify and predict supply chain disruptions using real-time data streams. The second project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), involves conducting field work across the Intermountain West to map and model global-to-local food-energy-water supply chains. The successful candidate will join a large, active, and highly collaborative research team across several universities. Our team leverages network theory and data science to characterize and understand systemic vulnerabilities and resiliencies in global-to-local supply chains.

Project #1 Description:

The IARPA-funded Early Supply Chain Emergency Warning System (ESChEWS) is developing a first-of-its-kind system for the early detection of supply chain disruptions, predict their impacts, and alert affected stakeholders. The ESChEWS project is seeking a highly qualified postdoctoral scholar to develop natural language processing workflows for detecting potential supply chain disruptions from multiple real-time data sources. The practical work will involve data science, modeling, scientific writing, and the formulation and execution of novel scientific inquiries.

Project #2 Description:

The NSF-funded Transformation Network (TN) aims to build resilient communities and ecosystems throughout the Intermountain Western United States. The TN represents a partnership between eight Western U.S. universities with over 50 partner organizations representing Tribal partners, governmental and non-governmental organizations, public utilities, conservation districts, irrigation districts, and municipalities. The TN team is advancing understanding of resilient headwaters, food-energy-water systems, and innovative and equitable governance models and institutions over a range of scales and domains.

Primary mentor(s): Dr. Richard Rushforth and Dr. Benjamin Ruddell

Essential Functions:

Research & Publications – 75 %

• Work collaboratively with research team to conceive and design experiments and/or data collection and analyses to address primary research questions.
• Conduct independent experiments and data collection as needed and keep appropriate records of all research activities. Lead data analysis, modeling, coding, and synthesis efforts as appropriate to the project goals.
• Design and implement research protocols and adapt new procedures, methods, coding, or instrumentation as appropriate to the project goals.
• Prepare and deliver presentations of research findings.
• Prepare and submit manuscripts for publication.
• Read scientific literature, participate in scientific discussions with other members of the research team and lab, and attend mandatory lab and project meetings.
• Other administrative and research tasks related to the project, including organizing project meetings and training others in project protocols.

Data Metrics – 15%

• Collect, curate, synthesize, and analyze research data-Maintain organized, open, and accessible records of data and computer code.
• Perform data analysis and visualization and develop efficient data analysis pipelines and/or tools as appropriate to project goals.
• Tabulate and display data for presentation in research conferences and for manuscript preparation; use graphics and statistical software to analyze and present data

Grant Funding & Management – 5%

• Works within the grant-specific project requirements.
• Assists project PIs with managing grant funds according to sponsor specifications.

Academic/Lab Liaison – 5%

• Perform assigned lab duties to assist in the maintenance of equipment, supplies, reagents or the general operation of the lab, and various other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to project goals.
• Promote an inclusive and welcoming work environment for all.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned PhD in Economics, Business, Civil Engineering, Climate, Agriculture, Computer Science, Ecology, Environmental Science or a related field from an accredited research institution.
• Strong track record of related publications in the peer-reviewed literature

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong programming and quantitative analysis skills
• Strong English communication and writing skills
• Motivated and proactive attitude to take ownership and initiative in research
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students from a variety of backgrounds.