Job Duties and Responsibilities
This Community Needs and Capacity Assessment Post Doctoral Researcher position at the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute at New Mexico State University focuses on collaboration with agricultural communities to conduct a needs and capacity assessment using social assessment methodologies such as ethnographic research methods and develop and assess alternative regional water management strategies in the face of drought. Preferred candidate will have expertise in cultural anthropology, or in community and regional planning, sociology, human geography, or related fields with an emphasis on ethnographic research methods. Experience interfacing with communities and water and other natural resources will contribute to advancing the science needed to identify pathways to agricultural and water resilience.
The Post Doctoral Researcher will work closely with the team and stakeholders with primary responsibilities to conduct a needs and capacity assessment for agricultural stakeholders of the region, synthesize local knowledge on the regional conditions, and participate in the co-development of alternative water management strategies.
These responsibilities include assisting and collaborating with the team and taking leadership of certain components of the project listed below.
Lead the collection, analysis, and synthesis of interviews and focus groups using social assessment methods such as ethnographic assessments: this will involve recruiting interviewees/focus group participants, obtaining informed consent, carrying out in-person interviews, managing confidential data, and analyzing the interviews with a process of qualitative analytic coding using software such as NVivo. The Post Doctoral Researcher will also help to guide the modeling team to understand the findings so that they may be incorporated into the project model. The Postdoctoral Researcher will also manage the timeline of the project grant deliverables related to the needs assessment in coordination with the team and other related deliverables.
Collaborative development of the analysis: this will involve the synthesis of local knowledge on the regional conditions and the development of alternative water management strategies for agricultural and other water users. The Post Doctoral Researcher will also help to develop visualization tools.
Mentor graduate students.
Publish results in peer-reviewed academic journals and develop materials for reports and presentations to provide the results to project partners and stakeholders.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications
Must be able to obtain an NMSU driving permit within 30 days of employment.
Must be able to travel occasionally to field sites to install and/or troubleshoot equipment.
Work a standard schedule of hours between Monday-Friday, 8-5 (occasionally may change slightly depending on business needs).
Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Doctorate degree in related field.; Required Experience:No previous work experience required.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of university and department policies and procedures; principles and practices of organization and administration; principles of supervision, training, mentoring and performance evaluation; research techniques and designs; methodologies; data collection and analysis.;
SKILLS: Skills in short- and long-range planning; problem analysis and resolution; report preparation and presentation; public contact and relations; oral and written communication; literature reviews and compilation; material development for scientific and non-scientific audiences; grant writing and peer reviewed publications; modification of existing models or development of new models. The applicant may be responsible for, but not limited to, assisting in technical and outreach support in the department and organizing outreach events and conferences addressing activities associated with the research project.;
ABILITIES: Ability to direct, evaluate, train and supervise the work of assigned personnel; develop and maintain effective working relationships; maintain accurate and orderly records; use independent judgment and initiative; organize and direct activities; analyze and evaluate information; make presentations; work as a member of a team; write technical reports, conference presentation papers, peer-reviewed journal articles and grant proposals.
NMSU is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. NMSU is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
