Please see two opportunities below for the Belmont Forum. 

Belmont Forum Africa Environmental Research program aims to address climate change vulnerability and risks across the African continent.

• Award Size: Up to $400,000
• Duration: 3 years
• Due Dates: Registration 9/2/24; full proposal 12/31/24

The Belmont Forum Tropical Forest Research program seeks to support innovative solutions to environmental challenges in tropical forest regions.  

• Award Size: Up to $400,000
• Due Dates: Preproposal 11/12/24; full proposal 5/30/25

Link to full solicitations: https://belmontforum.org/cras#open

Analysis from Lewis Burke >>>

If researchers are interested and pursuing this opportunity, have an interdisciplinary team (at least two campus units), and iSEE can support this endeavor (including helping bring an interdisciplinary team together, business office support, etc.), please reach out to Heidi Leerkamp to discuss the ways iSEE can support your team and proposal development.

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as part of the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC), a Center funded by the U.S. Geological Survey and comprising academic and partner institutions in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana (https://mwcasc.umn.edu/). MW CASC is part of a national network of regional Centers that teams scientists with natural and cultural resource managers and local communities to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. The consortium’s vision is to advance climate adaptation science and practice across all components of the climate adaptation cycle by pursuing region-specific, collaborative, synthesis projects that build on past work, provide new resources and tools, and catalyze adaptation capacity across the Midwest.

The UIUC-based Postdoctoral Fellow will serve as the principal analyst and researcher for the Consortium’s synthesis project intended to identify climate refugia in the Midwestern United States. To accomplish this goal, the postdoc will: 1) consult with and coordinate with appropriate academic researchers, agency personnel, and tribal groups to define climate refugia by criteria specific to the landscapes, ecosystems, and societal diversity of the MW CASC region; 2) determine where these refugia are, or might be, located under contrasting climate scenarios and landscapes that are comparatively natural, predominantly agricultural, and urban/peri urban; and 3) develop a virtual atlas that depicts these refugia throughout the MW CASC region and  develop accessible platforms for the dissemination of analyses.  The postdoc will also be expected to lead data analysis, organize workshops, and develop senior-authored manuscripts as outputs from these activities.  Research outcomes will be co-produced with non-academic partners to support the implementation of research findings in environmental decision-making and will require partner engagement and regular briefings. 

The postdoc will work closely with Professors Jeff Brawn, Cory Suski, and Michael J. Aiuvalasit on the  Illinois campus, and with a regional synthesis working group that includes consortium members and state, federal, and tribal partners.  Whereas it is hoped that the postdoc will work in-person on the Illinois campus, the potential exists for remote work for this position. The postdoc will be expected to interact in-person with the synthesis project’s working group at annual MW CASC meetings, workshops, and other appropriate events. 

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent in an appropriate discipline by the position’s start date.   
• Strong background in geospatial analysis and modeling
• Proficiency with one or more GIS software platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS)
• Proficiency with one or more relevant programming languages (e.g., R, Python)

Desired Skills/Knowledge:

• Experience building geospatial web applications (e.g., ArcGIS Online or R Shiny, JavaScript)
• Experience working with the Google Earth Engine or with remote sensing software (e.g., ENVI, Erdas Imagine, etc.)
• Experience with climate modeling
• Strong English communication skills (speaking and writing) and experience working with diverse groups of stakeholders. 
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work independently. 

The position is available for two years; however, annual renewal is dependent on funding and progress made by the individual. This position includes a competitive salary. Various benefits are available dependent on U.S. citizenship or visa status.

Application review will begin May 6, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. The start date is flexible, but ideally by July 15, 2024. Applications should include a brief cover letter that clearly identifies the applicant’s experience and skills relevant to the position as described above, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three references. Please put “MW CASC postdoc application” in the subject line of your email to Brawn, jbrawn@illinois.edu. For further information about the position, please contact Brawn.

Illinois is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu) The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer (https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/policy/policy_library/u_of_i_system_policy_on_background_checks).

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.