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Center for Orgins and Deep Time: Origins and Deep Time Fellow (Open until filled. Apply by 1/15/19)

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Position description

The Center for Origins and Deep Time (CODT) at the University of California, Santa Cruz is seeking the first Origins and Deep Time Fellow to help found a new, path-breaking, multidisciplinary center to study the future of Earth on cosmic timescales. The Center for Origins and Deep Time (https://codt.ucolick.org/) is a new initiative involving seven campuses of the University of California in which knowledge from across the disciplines will be integrated to forge a deeper understanding of our origins – Earth, life, consciousness, and civilization – and how these might evolve over the next million years. The Fellow will play a major part in setting the course of the new center and will engage with all the academic divisions of the University, including Physical and Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Arts, and Humanities.

Background: A pilot proposal has been submitted to the UC Office of Research and Graduate Studies to fund a two-year effort to prepare a master proposal to create a fully-fledged CODT that would start in 2021. The success of the pilot proposal will be known in January 2019. If funds are granted, work will commence immediately to prepare the master proposal. This will entail: informing UC campuses about CODT, surveying faculty interest, preparing an inventory of research currently being performed at different UC campuses and how it might relate to the mission of the Center, identifying new research programs in UC that are needed, and designing the operations and governance structure of the center. CODT will also be working closely with the newly formed Earth Futures Institute at UC Santa Cruz, which has a similar focus.

The pilot proposal provides funds to support the first CODT Fellow. This job announcement is going out prospectively to jump-start the hiring of the Fellow, assuming that the proposal will be successful.

Duties: The CODT Fellow will work with the Center Director, Professor Sandra Faber from UC Santa Cruz, and Co-Principal Investigators from six other UC campuses to launch and plan the new center. Specific duties of the Fellow include:

  • Visiting participating UC campuses, meeting with faculty, and launching the dialogue about CODT
  • Identifying ways in which existing research programs at participating campuses can be coordinated and combined to support CODT initiatives
  • Learning and reporting on the work of other futurism institutes worldwide
  • Helping to generate new ideas for CODT’s future development
  • Preparing the master proposal to create a permanent CODT
  • Acting as a communications and information nexus for the Center
  • Monitoring progress of ongoing CODT programs
  • Planning and participating in CODT events such as conferences, workshops, and public events
  • Helping to seek sources of funding from federal and private agencies
  • Acting as a spokesperson for CODT to the media, government, and public

The Fellow will be based at CODT Headquarters, which is located at the University of California, Santa Cruz. However, significant travel to other UC campuses will be needed in order to achieve close coordination among CODT nodes. A minimum of 45 days of travel (30 days overnight) per year is anticipated.

Depending on the appointee's interests, some time may be available for scholarly research, provided the topic is closely relevant to and supportive of CODT's mission and goals. Topic, effort, and additional research appointment are negotiable.

We seek a dynamic individual with an appetite for learning and discovery, and the enthusiasm and professional experience to build a complicated institution from scratch. The successful candidate will be expected to employ originality and creativity, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with experts from widely different disciplines across the academic spectrum. This position requires that the incumbent possess: the ability to successfully interact with faculty who are world experts in their fields; strong analytical and decision-making skills; the ability to translate complex concepts for lay audiences; the independence to operate effectively for long periods without direct supervision; the ability to multi-task; excellent people and leadership skills; excellent judgment and self-possession; the highest personal integrity; and a strong commitment to the work of CODT.

Applicants with any of the following qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply: broad experience across multiple fields, including the arts and humanities; knowledge of new media technologies such as video gaming, digital arts and new media, virtual reality, and social media platforms; a background in strategic planning and organizational development; a demonstrated interest in and familiarity with the global futures movement; experience in university-level academic research; and/or previous work experience in a position of responsibility in academia, business, industry, media and communications, or government.

ACADEMIC TITLE
Academic Coordinator I – Academic Coordinator II

SALARY
$60,000 – $90,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • A Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in a field of science, social science, or engineering at the time of application.
  • A minimum of two years’ work experience that is relevant to the advertised position after receiving the baccalaureate degree.

POSITION AVAILABLE
March 1, 2019. Employment is contingent on the availability of funding (start date negotiable with candidate).

DURATION OF POSITION
Initial appointment will be full‐time for two years. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment, a review to assess performance will be conducted. Reappointment is also contingent upon the success of the master proposal.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications are accepted via the UCSC Academic Recruit online system. All documents and materials must be submitted as PDFs.

APPLY AT https://recruit.ucsc.edu/apply/JPF00677 (previously advertised as JPF00666)
Please refer to Position # JPF00677-19T in all correspondence.

Documents/Materials

  • A personal statement of no more than three pages explaining your interest in CODT, your relevant experience, the ways in which you see yourself contributing to the work of the CODT, and your personal goals for the two-year appointment period (required)
  • A current curriculum vitae and bibliography (required)
  • A PDF document that includes up to three electronic links to examples of independent written work, such as research papers, reports, books, or article (optional)
  • A PDF document that includes up to three electronic links to examples of other creative work (optional)
  • A PDF document that includes up to three electronic links to examples of videotaped public lectures, presentations, or performances (optional)
  • A research proposal (optional)

References
Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation* (a minimum of three are required and a maximum of five will be accepted). Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.

NOTE: A final electronic interview and/or campus visit will be required of those candidates who are under serious consideration by the search committee.

RECRUITMENT PERIOD
Full consideration will be given to applications completed by January 15, 2019. Applications received after this date will be considered only if the position has not been filled.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
More information about the CODT Fellow position can be found at https://codt.ucolick.org/job_description.html.

Candidates can also email Sandra Faber at faber@ucolick.org or Bahram Mobasher at mobasher@ucr.edu for more information.


The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify). More information is available at the APO website (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/104.000%20.html) or call (831) 459-4300.

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Academic Personnel Office at apo@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4300.

VISIT THE APO WEB SITE AT http://apo.ucsc.edu
11/27/18

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Cover Letter - A personal statement of no more than three pages explaining your interest in CODT, your relevant experience, the ways in which you see yourself contributing to the work of the CODT, and your personal goals for the two-year appointment period.

  • Curriculum Vitae - A current curriculum vitae and bibliography

  • Examples of independent written work - A PDF document that includes up to three electronic links to examples of independent written work, such as research papers, reports, books, or article
    (Optional)

  • Examples of other creative work - A PDF document that includes up to three electronic links to examples of other creative work
    (Optional)

  • Examples of videotaped public lectures, presentations, or performances - A PDF document that includes up to three electronic links to examples of videotaped public lectures, presentations, or performances
    (Optional)

  • Rersearch proposal (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 letters of reference required

Job location

Santa Cruz, CA