Postdoctoral Fellow - Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network

JOB TITLE

Postdoctoral Fellow - Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Global School NFR - JM

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) seeks to hire a two-year Postdoctoral Research Associate to assist the NOAA Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network (CCAN), a climate adaptation partnership for the US Caribbean region. The position will be based in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, from July 2025 through July 2027 (Y4-Y5 of project) with occasional responsibilities to meet CCAN members in Puerto Rico and at WPI in Worcester, MA. The research associate will assist a transdisciplinary and cross-institutional team to develop workable strategies to address gaps in decision-making, planning, and implementation of actions required to address climate extreme challenges in the Caribbean US territories. CCAN seeks to engage communities, practitioners, and stakeholders, in an effective social co-design process to support equitable climate adaptation and community resilience.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The successful candidate for this Postdoctoral Research Associate position will have a PhD in a social science field that includes empirical research on climate change, climate adaptation, community participatory research, and ideally experience working in the US Virgin Islands, the Greater Caribbean region, and/or among Caribbean diaspora communities in the USA. We invite applicants whose research bridges science, technology, engineering and social science approaches and methodologies, with experience working in interdisciplinary settings. We especially seek researchers experienced in working directly with marginalized communities or community-based organizations in Caribbean contexts. Demonstrated excellence in scholarship and a commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion are essential.

Main tasks will include:

• Work with partners on climate adaptation, vulnerability, risk, and resilience in the US Virgin Islands, including, e.g., the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Caribbean Green Technologies Center at University of the Virgin Islands, and the NOAA USVI Climate Adaptation Specialist.
• Plan and participate in community-based workshops and scientific network meetings that will facilitate exchange of information and identifying local and regional actions and strategies that support climate adaptation.
• Build relationships with other potential research participants/organizations in the US Virgin Islands, working closely with a local coordinator and partners at UVI, while helping to map existing organizational networks and their changing relationships over time.
• Design and implement collaborations between CCAN and community participants, including organizations in the US Virgin Islands, including leading workshops developed within the CCAN network (i.e. with state agencies and/or community collaborators).
• Collect qualitative data and implement co-design processes to help support equitable climate adaptation strategies and planning processes.
• Actively contribute to CCAN publications, meetings, workshops, and academic conference presentations, including drafting reports, policy briefs and blogposts on the activities of the network, and disseminating these via website and social media.
• Liaison among CCAN collaborators at UVI, UPR and WPI, including leading meetings of the CCAN Graduate Students Working Group which facilitates mentoring activities.

Qualifications required:

• PhD in Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Environmental Studies, Development Studies, or other fields relating to Science, Technology and Society. The PhD must be in hand by June 30th, 2025 and must have been awarded in the last five years.
• Native or near-native proficiency in English and familiarity with other Caribbean Creole languages and Caribbean Spanish also desirable. 
• Experience with qualitative research, semi-structured interviews
• 5 years of graduate research
• Proven writing skills in English
• Ability to locate in the US Virgin Islands for much of the fieldwork

Other desirable skills: experience with community-based research; good organizational skills; interest in podcasts, video-blogging, or other innovative ways of communication.

An annual salary of $60,000 is offered, which includes a benefits package. For consideration, please submit a letter of application stating your relevant experience and interest in the topic, a C.V. and copy of academic transcript, a dissertation abstract and writing sample such as an article or dissertation chapter, and th