Special Instructions to Applicants:  Applicants are requested to submit a proposal of research to be undertaken during the fellowship period. The principal selection criteria are scholarly creativity and excellence, the applicant’s record of productivity, and a clearly expressed research plan to address questions at the forefront of their field of study. The proposed research should encompass independent research ideas and explore new directions beyond the applicant’s Ph.D. 

Position Summary 

The Sustainability Institute at Rice University is inviting applications for postdoctoral fellows in sustainability solutions. We seek creative scholars with research proposals that are interdisciplinary and tackle sustainability problems in transformative, multidisciplinary ways.

These researchers must be leaders in their areas of research and must have completed their Ph.D. degrees and be within the first 3 years of degree conferral. 

The research fellowship will be supported for two years --- pending satisfactory progress during the first year --- and includes an annual stipend of $70,000 with a benefits package, an annual discretionary research allowance, and an allowance for reasonable relocation expenses.

 Applicants are required to submit:

1. A current CV, including a list of publications and other authored, creative works,

2. A brief synopsis of the applicant’s doctoral dissertation (no longer than one page), 

3. A concise research proposal (no longer than three pages, including figures, excluding references) describing the research that the applicant would like to pursue at Rice, 

4. A brief collaboration statement that explains the applicants’ interest in, experience with, and/or planned commitment to working with research partners across multiple disciplines. This statement of collaboration should detail a prospective team of potential advisors, ideally across multiple departments and/or schools at Rice.

All four documents must be submitted with your application as a single PDF by August 15, 2024. Letters of reference will be requested following the first application review. 

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in an area related to sustainability. No substitutions for education allowed.
• Be within the first 3 years of degree conferral  

Skills 

• Proficiency on a research topic related to sustainability, encompassing possession, comprehension, and application of comprehensive knowledge.
• Excellent communication skills to articulate their research findings both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work in a team environment, to participate actively and collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment and to motivate others
• Ability to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction

Essential Functions

• Communicates research finding / creative works through verbal presentations and publications / reports 
• Supports project management and collaboration across disciplines and departments
• Participates in Rice Sustainability Institute sponsored events or workshops 
• Mentors, oversees, and/or trains junior research team members.

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.