Postdoctoral Fellowship opportunities

APPLICATIONS OPEN * Closing date is September 30 2023 *

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 and we are interested in postdocs who will advance research both by synthesis and by new data acquisition. 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 (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 through our list of possible faculty mentors (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. The faculty mentors as a team, commit to (1) training, advising and supervising the postdoc; (2) providing all necessary research infrastructure, equipment, travel costs, and other; (3) providing a suitable work space (i.e. office space of some kind); and (4) providing annual funds for the postdoc to use as they see fit, for partial or full costs of conferences, computers, and research travel expenses. In cases where the postdoc salary is fully supported by IGCB, this support of $5,000 will come from the mentor team; in cases where the mentors are providing half of the salary support, IGCB will provide half of the additional $5,000/year supplement. Potential mentors can contact IGCB management (sraubs@umich.edu) to get more information on this. 

The application deadline is September 30, 2023. Research in global change biology happens in many departments and units on campus, so Fellows could be jointly based in a number of departments and the IGCB. We hope to make decisions by October 25, 2023.  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, 2024 (although we can be flexible as needed). Most postdoc positions are expected to be for two years, although University protocols require a one-year initial appointment and subsequent evaluation. Postdocs of more than two years would be feasible when co-funding is available.

Applications must include: (1) A cover letter (1 page); (2) a CV; (3) a research statement including plans for proposed research and anticipated mentors at the University of Michigan (3 pages maximum),  including a short paragraph describing how the applicant’s research would fit in with and contribute to the IGCB Research Themes, (4) brief statement describing interest in, experience with, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity (1 page); (5) names and contact information for three references; please ask all three to upload their letters here. Combine all parts of the application into a single PDF and upload the file in the application form here. Contact the IGCB Program Manager (Sarah Raubenheimer; sraubs@umich.edu) with any questions.