GLP Land System Science Lead - Assistant Research Professor

The Global Land Programme (GLP) (www.glp.earth), seeks a highly organized and motivated individual to join the Global Land Programme’s International Programme Office (GLP-IPO) as Land System Science Lead at the Assistant Research Professor/Postdoctoral Associate level depending on experience.

The GLP-IPO is hosted by the Department of Geographical Sciences at University of Maryland, College Park. The GLP is a global research network of more than 2300 scientists worldwide supporting the next generation of science-based solutions to land system challenges at local-to-global scales, and delivering knowledge in support of sustainable development. The GLP-IPO, based at UMD, serves as a catalyst to achieve the mission of this international network to enable research for sustainable development of land systems via four main objectives: 1) Setting agendas and facilitating synthesis in land system science; 2) Enabling the production of cutting-edge land system science worldwide; 3) Informing science-based policy on land; and 4) Building capacity of the Land System Science (LSS) community to deliver inclusive, solutions-oriented science.

This new position will support the GLP’s IPO and Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) on a range of analytical and programming activities to investigate the implications of competing claims on land (e.g., nationally determined contributions to reduce GHG emissions, achieving carbon neutrality, conserving biodiversity). These activities will include identifying, cataloging, and wrangling diverse global datasets; synthesizing available data sources to produce analytical generalizations of thematic land system challenges; and oversee the production and communication of reports, papers, and related high-impact products targeted to diverse policy audiences (e.g., ‘State of the Land’ assessment). The LSS lead will work in consultation with the SSC and analysts drawn from the wider GLP network.

This position is a Professional Track Research Faculty Member (non-tenure position) at either the Post Doctoral Associate rank or the Assistant Research Professor rank, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This is a 12-month, 50% effort part-time position. The initial appointment is for three years renewable. This position offers excellent benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, generous leave package from the first year, retirement subsidy (ORP/Pension System), tuition remission and many professional development opportunities. This position is also hybrid telework-eligible with flexible work hours. GEOG promotes growth in individuals and a healthy work-life balance within a collaborative culture. The anticipated start dated is Fall 2023. The researcher will be located at the University of Maryland with options for telework. There may also be periods of travel, both domestic and foreign, in support of GLP events and projects.

Applicants should have a background in LSS, or related research areas (e.g., social-ecological systems, coupled human-natural systems), broadly construed. The ideal candidate will have excellent quantitative and analytical skills, and prior experience analyzing large-scale geospatial and mixed-mode data.

Specific skills required include ability to compile, clean, wrangle, visualize, and manage large amounts of tabular and geospatial data; GIS; a solid foundation in applied statistics (i.e. regression analysis); and some basic familiarity with synthesis and/or mixed-methods research approaches. Candidates should have strong communication (spoken and written) and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently, as well as with a close-knit IPO team and the broader international LSS community

Minimum Qualifications and Required Skills

An earned doctoral degree in Geographical Sciences or allied fields in environmental sciences, integrative geography (social and natural science) is required. Candidates with doctoral degrees in other fields (for example, Physics, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering) with a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of research topics and methods of LSS will also be considered. Competent programming and statistical skills (e.g., such as Python, IDL, MatLab, C/C++, R, TensorFlow) are required. Experience with science communication, geovisualization, and/or mixed methods or other synthesis methods is desired. Candidates at the level of Assistant Research Professor must have a demonstrated ability to independently conduct research as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications.

Applications should include a personal statement of background and experience relevant to the position, a signed, dated Curriculum Vitae, reprints (or accessible download urls) of selected peer-reviewed publications, and names and addresses (including e-mail) of 3-5 references. Applicants with specific research interests they would like to pursue at UMD are encouraged to contact Ariane de Bremond (adebrem@umd.edu) to discuss their potential plans.

For best consideration applications should be submitted no later than August 14, 2023, but the search will continue until a suitable candidate is appointed.

Applications from women and minorities are particularly sought. The University of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.

Further information on the Global Land Programme and the research programs of the Department may be obtained from the address above and can be found at https://www.glp.earth/ and http://www.geog.umd.edu.