Welcome to the IGCB
A Nexus for Interdisciplinary Global Change Research
Global change is disrupting organisms and ecosystems globally. Drivers of change include climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, biotic exchange (novel pathogens, pests), land use, and more. We see these impacting our forests, croplands, lakes and rivers, oceans, coastlines, and cities.
Impacts on people and nature are, and will be, staggering—now and within the next decade—not the end of the century, as previously predicted.
Hello and welcome to the IGCB home page! We have launched several initiatives (e.g., faculty hires, postdoc opportunities, PhD Fellowships, research themes and associated projects involving research among multiple Michigan groups and with outside collaborators, an Exchange Fellows program, a seminar series and several symposia), that you can learn about from the links below. We are excited about the community we are building to help advance science, train the next generation of global change scholars, and find solutions to our global crises. Our web site is constantly under reconstruction, so expect to see more soon illustrating who we are and the work we are doing. Feel free to contact me directly ([email protected]) if you’d like to learn more.
- Peter Reich, IGCB Director
The IGCB's Mission
We seek to enhance understanding of critical knowledge gaps and learn how to do science that has an impact (i.e. help find solutions to our climate and sustainability crises). Our overall research focus is on the interaction of the four main drivers of global environmental change (climate change, biodiversity loss and biotic invasion, land use and transformation, eutrophication) with key natural and human systems and processes.
The IGCB currently focuses on six research areas or themes to meet four interwoven goals; and views these as our current priorities.
In focusing on the research themes below, we aim to advance our mission and meet our goals:
I. Build community and critical mass
II. Train the current and next generation of global change scholars
III. Do good science
IV. Help find solutions to our global crises
Research Themes
IGCB Representatives Travel to UFPA/CISAM Workshop of the Fulbright Chair
In August 2026, representatives Benjamin Goldstein, Thiago Gonçalves-Souza, Dimitrios Gounaridis, and Kai Zhu from IGCB will travel to the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) in Brazil for the first workshop of the UFPA/CISAM Fulbright Chair. Workshop themes include disturbance impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, advancements for studying ecological changes, ecological model applications, and conflicts between conservation and production. “[IGCB representatives] will contribute especially to activities in ecological modeling, data analysis, sustainability, and scenario building.”
2026 Call for Postdoctoral Fellows
Institute for Global Change Biology: Call for Postdoctoral Fellows
* Application deadline is 30 September 2026 *
The Institute of Global Change Biology (IGCB) at the University of Michigan is seeking another round of exceptional applicants for the IGCB Michigan Postdoctoral Fellows Program. Successful applicants will have the opportunity and support to advance research in any aspect of global change biology. They will also be able to participate in programs that include career mentoring, professional development, and academic networking opportunities. Applicants with interest across all areas of global change biology are invited to apply. For examples of previously funded projects, please see Research Fellows (past and present) on our website.
Faculty mentorship is a valued component of the IGCB Postdoctoral Fellows Program. The program requires regular collaboration and planning between Research Fellows and their mentors. We encourage applicants to contact at least two potential postdoc mentors at Michigan– we highly encourage co-mentoring. Preference will be given to applicants who bridge disciplines; co-mentoring across schools/departments is strongly encouraged. Co-funding of postdoc salaries (e.g. through grants to potential co-mentors or postdoc fellowships to candidates) is also encouraged but not expected. Potential mentors and their areas of interest are available on our website (see both the Steering Committee and Affiliated Faculty sections), although University of Michigan faculty mentors who are not yet affiliated with the IGCB will also be considered.
IGCB Michigan Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to be full participants in IGCB activities: including attending a weekly ‘Postdoc Plus’ group meeting and periodic IGCB seminars, workshops and training exercises; attending and/or presenting at annual IGCB Postdoc Plus, PhD student, and ‘all hands’ symposia; serving on the next IGCB Postdoc Fellows competition committee; providing timely updates for the IGCB website; and interacting in a variety of ways with other Fellows, and with IGCB Graduate Fellows and Exchange Fellows.
The application deadline is September 30, 2026. Research in global change biology happens in many departments and units on campus, so Fellows could be jointly based in one of a number of departments and the IGCB. Successful applicants would be able to start their appointment as soon as feasible after a decision has been reached, but preferably not later than June 30, 2027 (although we can be flexible as needed). Most postdoc fellowships are expected to span two years; University protocols require a one-year initial appointment and subsequent evaluation. Postdocs of more than two years may be feasible when co-funding is available.
Applications must include: (1) A 1-page cover letter; (2) a CV; (3) names and contact information for three references; (4) a research statement. Research statements should include plans for proposed research and anticipated mentors at the University of Michigan (3 pages maximum, excluding references) and a short paragraph describing how the applicant’s research would fit in with and contribute to the IGCB Research Themes. Combine all parts of the application into a single PDF and upload the file in the application form here. Applicants should direct all three referees to upload their letters here.
Need additional information? See frequently asked questions and their responses here. Contact [email protected] with any remaining inquiries.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.