A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Research Area Specialist will report to Professor Pam Jagger (School for Environment and Sustainability) , supporting ongoing international research projects in the FUEL (Forest Use, Energy, Livelihoods) Lab. You will both engage in independent research tasks and oversee a team of student employees, serving as a liaison between active field work teams, student research teams, and research partners in international field sites.

Please note that this position has a preferred candidate. All qualified candidates will still be considered.

This position will be a one (1) year, full-time term limited appointment with the possibility of renewal.

At the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), we are at the forefront of building a more sustainable and just world for all by transforming the impact of higher education and reimagining the future. We are advancing action through innovation, research, education and engagement in society, and developing leaders who are empowered to halt the climate crisis and create an environmentally sound future for generations to come.

To learn more about SEAS and our values, please visit our website at https://seas.umich.edu/about/seas-values.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

Research Project Oversight 

• Oversee multiple studies involving household surveys
• Liaise with field teams to coordinate project activities in Ann Arbor and remote locations
• Manage research project workflow for multiple concurrent projects
• Maintain and manage human subjects research protocols in accordance with UM policies

Research and Analysis Support

• Collaborate directly with research partners in Bangladesh to integrate climate, health, and demographic surveillance (HDSS) data towards a harmonized data platform
• Maintain research databases relevant to FUEL Lab projects
• Manage, clean, and analyze data in climate research and epidemiological data
• Contribute to the writing of academic articles

Student Supervision

• Supervise and guide a team of students in research and field work
• Ensure completion of deliverables for Asian Development Bank research outputs, such as landscape analysis and evidence reviews

Fieldwork and Site Visits

• Travel to field sites as needed to support research activities

• Master's degree in environmental studies, public health, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience managing large datasets, specifically public health datasets
• Demonstrated project management skills 
• Proficiency with programming languages such as R, Python, SAS, or SQL
• Experience overseeing student employees engaged in research activities

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.