Postdoctoral Investigator - Indigenous knowledge Systems

Job Summary

Job Description

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is seeking a post-doctoral researcher specializing in the application, integration and/or incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems to coastal and marine science, governance, and research paradigms. Potential research areas are broad. Some example areas, connected to ongoing research at the Institution, are listed below, but we are open to considering other avenues of investigation that meet the broad criteria of incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into the study.

• Coastal landform evolution and management, particularly in response to sea level rise. Understanding the connections between coastal landforms and ecosystems.

• Long-term ecosystem evolution and impacts on coastal peoples and resources. Driving factors might include climate change, harmful algal blooms (HABS), invasive species, and human activities. Impacts may include access to clean drinking water, loss of access to historically important natural resources and/or territories/seas, adaptation and diversification.

• Commercial fisheries management and impacts of warming oceans on commercial fisheries futures.

• Potential for, and methods, of aquaculture, including shellfish and kelp.

• Arctic Environment: rivers, ocean circulation, permafrost and sea-ice changes.

• Approaches to and impacts of climate change mitigation. Community response and adaptation of traditional practices. The role of saltmarsh and eelgrass beds in storing carbon.

In all the themes above, we welcome the cultural and social impacts on, and response of, communities to external forcing factors as the main line of inquiry. We encourage applicants to reach out to faculty working broadly in their area of research to help develop their research plans, although independent ideas for research projects proposed by the candidate are entirely welcome. This is particularly so under circumstances where community needs have already been identified, and relationships and partnerships are already in place.

The successful candidate will be appointed for a 2-year position in one of our 5 Science Departments or our Marine Policy Center. Opportunities for interdisciplinary research exist and are encouraged through collaborations with researchers across the Institution, as well as in the broader Woods Hole scientific community, particularly with the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. Opportunities also exist to work with scientists, educators and staff at Woods Hole Sea Grant located on the WHOI campus.

WHOI's mission can be achieved, and its core values fully realized, only by the all-inclusive participation of a diversity of voices, not only as a means of enriching our scientific frameworks and understanding new facets of our work, but as a moral imperative. We believe that all members of society should have equal access to shaping our ocean and climate futures. In 2021, WHOI established the Office of DEI under the leadership of Dr. Natalie Nevarez (CDEIO) with the aim of cultivating an inclusive environment for all members of our community. WHOI has appointed a Tribal Liaison who is a member of the local Mashpee Wampanoag community, as well as a consultant with expertise in native cultural practices who will support faculty involved in this project on cultural respect, tribal engagement, and knowledge sharing practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

WHOI is located on Cape Cod in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, a world-renowned center for marine, biomedical, and environmental science, with proximity to the research hubs of Boston, MA and Providence, RI. Its mission is to advance our understanding of the ocean and its interaction with the Earth system, and to communicate this understanding for the benefit of society. WHOI is the largest private, non-profit oceanographic institution in the world, with staff, postdocs, and graduate students numbering approximately 1,000. An additional 500 affiliates are associated with the scientific endeavors of the Institution, many of whom are from the international community.

Application Materials:

• CV: A current CV or resume that includes educational background, scientific products (publications, data products, scientific talks, public outreach materials, etc), work experience, skills and training, and community engagements.

• Plain Language Training Summary: A brief plain-language summary of your research experience to date, with emphasis on your PhD training. Summarize what you have accomplished, the skills and techniques learned and developed, obstacles overcome, and the significance of your research and results, written for a non-expert audience. The aim of this document is to assess your ability to conduct independent research at WHOI, and to be able to present your research findings to both tribal communities as well as to the WHOI community that includes WHOI staff, Trustees and Corporation members.

• Statement of Research Interest: A statement (no longer than four pages) that addresses the research interests you wish to pursue at WHOI. Address why WHOI is an appropriate venue to carry out this research. Describe your anticipated career plans, with an explanation of how postdoctoral research at WHOI would add to your existing experience and preparation.

• DEI Statement: A statement explaining your interests in, experience with, and/or planned commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, teaching, and/or service. Please highlight your connection to the tribal communities you have worked with, including how you have engaged with these communities in a meaningful and collaborative way. Describe any partnerships or collaborations you have developed and how they have influenced your research. Examples of lived experiences that have impacted your approach to research are particularly valuable. Please include any significant life circumstances that have impacted your productivity, trajectory, or performance (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, illness, parenthood, caretaking responsibilities).

• References: The names of three references willing to provide recommendation letters. WHOI will contact references at the appropriate time during the review process. Candidates will be informed as we contact references.

Additional Job Requirements

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.