Fwd: CSSN Postdoc at Brown U 2022-23, review begins Feb 15: obstruction or opposition to action to address climate change
Roberts, J. Timmons
Location
Open Date
Jan 15, 2022
Description
The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Climate Social Science Network (CSSN) team. The selected Postdoctoral Fellow will conduct research and will have a specific leadership role within the CSSN research-teams that cover political and social dynamics related to the obstruction or opposition to action to address climate change. More specifically, these responsibilities will include helping develop and coordinate research activities, managing project-data, analyzing project data, and publishing project-related manuscripts and results.
Candidates should also demonstrate strong communication skills, interest in teaching undergraduates, and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively with groups from diverse backgrounds. The Fellow will also assist in collaborative teaching of Climate Policy Research in the Fall of 2022 and may have the opportunity to teach their own class in the Spring of 2023.
Relevant research projects could be in a number of areas, including:
- Research to determine the historical activities of institutions to oppose action on climate change. This includes historical and archival research, as well as time series analyses of organizational data. Research on organizational actors outside of the oil and gas sector is desired. This includes the role of the agricultural and forestry, (including livestock, ethanol, farming), transportation (rail, automobile and air transport), coal and iron & steel production, and real estate sectors.
- Empirical analysis of the role of public relations firms in creating and maintaining organized political opposition to climate change action opposition. Research on the impact of PR campaigns on the political process is desired.
- Analysis of the roles and relationships between organizational actors in climate change politics, including management, finance, or other consultancies, think tanks, advocacy organizations, foundations, corporations, public relations and lobbying firms, and trade associations.
- Examination of the role of finance actors such as banks, investment firms or insurance companies in fostering efforts to obstruct climate action, including greenwashing, establishing misleading ESG goals and climate action plans and failure to hold institutions accountable for their actions.
- Evaluation of the dynamics of media coverage of climate change, including an analysis of the role of public relations firms, media outlets, and other promotional activities in fostering different perspectives on climate change.
- Exploration of the interactions between climate science and funding of research by corporations, including empirical analysis of the funding flows and its impacts on the focus of climate science and the subsequent IPCC reports.
- Investigation of funding flows involving the major actors in climate change politics at the national level of the U.S. or specific regional, state, or local political arenas.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a recent Ph.D. (or be in the final year of Ph.D. work with certainty of completion before this position begins) and have relevant experience in sociology, political science, geography, communications or a related environmental social science interdisciplinary field. Prior research, teaching, and communications experience is a plus.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit:
- A cover letter describing your research and teaching interests, qualifications, and motivations;
- A two-page research and collaboration plan that links your previous work with this Position Description.
- Current CV;
- Three confidential letters of recommendation.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to the commitment of IBES and Brown University. Accordingly, IBES seeks qualified candidates who can contribute to racial equity, diversity and inclusion through service, mentorship, teaching and scholarship. Further, IBES is keenly interested in diversifying and encourages applications from diverse candidates. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups in higher education are encouraged to apply.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Brown University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community; as an EEO/AA employer, Brown considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.