POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW TRANSECTS

The TRANSdisciplinary Education Collaboration for Transformations in Sustainability TRANSECTS Hereby offers three Post-Doctoral Fellow Positions, one each at – University of Saskatchewan (Canada), Rhodes University (South Africa), and Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (Germany) 

TRANSECTS is an international partnership that aims to empower emerging scholars, professionals, and practitioners to become sustainability change makers through innovative and flexible intercultural, educational pathways.

Post-doctoral fellows (PDFs) will support the research and teaching missions of TRANSECTS with opportunities to work with one another and other team members across the partnership. Key partnering organizations include universities, UNESCO Biosphere Regions/Reserves; UNESCO regional or national commissions; Indigenous nations, and not-for-profit educational organizations and networks.

To begin any time from December 01 2022

PDFs will be expected to design and deliver a relevant research program that contributes to at least one of the following; the scholarship of sustainability science or education; professional training for sustainability or complex social-ecological systems; the scholarship of teaching and learning; monitoring and evaluation for learning; and/or program evaluation. Additionally, they will be responsible for making direct contributions to providing the next generation of scholars and practitioners necessary professional and relational skills for transdisciplinary research and practice.

With individual responsibilities and by working with others, PDFs will

1. Work closely with TRANSECTS’ lead faculty and staff, refine and apply a theory of change and the monitoring, evaluation and learning framework that guides program evaluation and learning

2. Conduct primary research about the work of the partnership, involving but not limited to:

• Refining and applying the project’s theory of change
• Securing necessary ethics approvals from each institution
• Collect, analyze, and report on results from monitoring, and evaluation to facilitate on-going learning and program evaluation throughout the partnership across three domains of change:
• Institutions – including academic support for transdisciplinary research, with a focus on universities and related role players (This post-doc will be based in either Canada or South Africa) Learners – including among students, practitioners, and faculty members (This post-doc will be based in either Canada or South Africa)
• Landscapes – including changes in landscape-level practices and people-nature connections (This post-doc will be based in Germany)

3. Design and implement a data management plan to be used by all team members

4. Work with others to design, implement and evaluate programme and training events such as field-based Learning Labs, Online Courses, Programme Institutes/Conferences, and Meetings. This would include providing an introductory webinar and/or in-person training and co-mentoring of students.

5. Facilitate opportunities for on-going student support, reflection, and evaluation

6. Lead to or contribute to conceptualizing, and writing programme communications and scholarly publications on research processes and findings.

See summary below. For more information on TRANSECTS, please contact Ms. Marlis Merry [email protected]

What Makes These PDFs Special

• TRANSECTS provides an exceptional opportunity to collaborate with, learn from, and contribute to an international network of established and early career scholars and practitioners working on diverse sustainability challenges in a diversity of social-ecological landscapes.
• TRANSECTS is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for a six-year period (2022-2028). These positions are available for up two years, with the possibility of renewal, subject to funding. All post-docs who work with TRANSECTS can use this opportunity to track change over time and contribute to a vibrant international community across the Global North and South.
• Beyond universities, other partnering organizations include UNESCO Biosphere Reserves/Regions; the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and non-profit educational organizations that offer additional networking opportunities.
• Transdisciplinary and engaged social-ecological research is a vibrant contemporary scholarly and practical endeavour sought after by young academics wanting to tackle wicked sustainability tangible positive difference.
• Capacity building for and evaluation of transformative learning for sustainability education is a relatively new knowledge field with associated research and publishing opportunities.
• PDFs will be expected to travel; expenses will be provided according to University and funder policies.

We seek candidates who demonstrate:

• Academic excellence. Program requirements for a PhD must be completed. The successful will demonstrate a solid understanding of sustainability science or sustainability education, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research experience, research and/or teaching experience related to complex social-ecological systems
• Excellent and compassionate communication skills in both written and spoken English ● Genuine interest in newer forms of evaluation to support learning in complex systems; experience in program evaluation is an asset
• Capability to collect, manage, and analyze a broad data set. (Data will include basic programme statistics, learners’ work, participant reflections and programme wide metareflections, institutional policies, meeting minutes, and observations of changing naturepeople connections and practices in biosphere regions. Analysis will be both qualitative and quantitative.) Capability to use NVivo should be in place, or developed.
• Ability to work well across international and intercultural differences
• Collaborative research skills
• Complex problem solving abilities
• Reflexive and adaptive research practice

To apply:

Note: Candidates much be citizens or permanent residents of the country in which they will work. Please select one country and topic. There is no funding to provide moving expenses. Submit

• a letter of application of not more than two pages explaining why you want this position, how you demonstrate the qualities we seek and what you will contribute to TRANSECTS
• a current cv
• the names and contact information of three referees who can comment on your academic and professional qualities.

For further details and to submit applications:

• Those applying to Canada, please send with subject line TRANSECTS POSTDOC to: o Dr. Maureen Reed, [email protected] and Ms. Marlis Merry, [email protected]
• Those applying to South Africa, please send with subject line TRANSECTS POSTDOC to: o Dr. Eureta Rosenberg, [email protected] and Mr. Preven Chetty, [email protected]
• Those applying to Germany, please send with subject line TRANSECTS POSTDOC to: o Ms. Jana Gengelbach, [email protected]

TRANSECTS SUMMARY:

Students of sustainability science face some of the world’s most intractable problems, either as academics or practitioners. They must draw from multiple disciplines and ways of knowing to become proficient transdisciplinary (transD) professionals who engage effectively with collaborators and communities through all phases of their work — from problem formulation to solution implementation. Hence, they must master diverse knowledge sets, methodological and relational competencies, and professional skills. Yet academic efforts to train students continue to neglect the human skills and professional tools necessary for transformative, transD sustainability research and practice.

TRANSdisciplinary Education Collaboration for Transformations in Sustainability (TRANSECTS) will empower emerging scholars, professionals and practitioners to become sustainability change makers through innovative and flexible intercultural, educational pathways that support academic and policy rigour, societal engagement and impact, and personal and community well-being.

Our objectives are to:

• Catalyze societal engagement and research impact by designing innovative, lasting, and flexible training strategies suitable for cross-cultural learning within and across the Global South and North;
• Nurture personal, community, and socio-ecological well-being through collaborations and a community of practice that embolden transD scholars and practitioners; and
• Re-imagine academic rigour and excellence by piloting and evaluating new metrics and institutional policies that support and recognize the success of transD scholars.

Trainees will work in international, intercultural and biodiverse settings to gain crucial transD competencies and professional skills; enhance their critical, relational, and reflexive capacities; and build their professional networks. To facilitate access and support students’ diverse needs, we will offer a training portfolio with tailored options that includes a foundational course, transfer credits and micro-credentials; learning laboratories in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, Indigenous communities and their traditional territories; Program Institutes; and a virtual Resource Platform.

Over six years, our team of 36 scholars and practitioners and 24 partner organizations with hubs in Canada, Germany and South Africa will offer real-world, transD research training experiences and reduce barriers to knowledge sharing between the Global North and South. We are a socially and culturally diverse team that includes internationally-recognized researchers and emerging scholars; directors with extensive experience working in national and international sustainability organizations; local leaders who daily confront key sustainability challenges; partners with national and international reach in post-secondary education and certification (SDSN, ECO Canada); Indigenous leaders in biocultural diversity and reconciliation (IISAAK OLAM); and experts in sustainability practice (National Commissions for UNESCO; World Network of Biosphere Reserves). Our governance structure involves all representatives in setting strategic directions, undertaking 5 operational tasks, evaluating progress, and making institutional change to provide exceptional student learning experiences.

Many team members have previously worked together in course delivery or research. By extending and formalizing our collaborations, we offer an unparalleled opportunity to improve research and practice through comparative analysis and knowledge sharing. Together, we will build an inclusive community of practice that demonstrates Canada’s global leadership in sustainability science training, with graduates who are job-ready to generate innovative solutions to urgent sustainability challenges. 

Department: School of Enviro&Sustainabilty
Status: Term
Employment Group: Post-Doctoral Fellows – PSAC
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary Information: The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Posted Date: 11/1/2022
Closing Date: 11/28/2022
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask’s Alternative Workspace Guidelines

Please review the University of Saskatchewan’s health and safety requirements for faculty, staff andstudents in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University believes equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.