Postdoctoral Scholar: Human dimensions of forest restoration and wildfire. Flagstaff Lil

Postdoctoral Scholar:
Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration and Wildfire

The Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University (NAU) seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to examine emergent questions related to the human dimensions of forest restoration and wildfire management in the Southwest. The ERI serves diverse audiences with objective science and implementation strategies that support ecological restoration and climate adaptation on Western forest landscapes. The ERI is nationally recognized as a leader in primary and secondary ecological and social science, scholarship, information exchange, collaborative efforts, and policy analysis supporting forest restoration and fire use.

The ERI is one of three congressionally‑designated institutes, the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) located in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, focused on bridging science and management to restore western fire‑adapted forests.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will work with ERI's Human Dimension program to develop and lead a program of work that advances the ERI's mission using social science methods. The Postdoctoral Scholar will implement applied science research, outreach, and coordination with partners for the ERI's Human Dimensions and Partnerships program. Potential topics for the postdoctoral project include but are not limited to: better understanding public perceptions of forest management, including fire, in Arizona;

linking wilderness policy and management decisions to ecological outcomes in northern Arizona; describing the challenges and opportunities of using formal agreements between the Forest Service and Tribes, counties, and states for forest restoration, management, and stewardship. The outcomes of this work will support the needs of ERI's partners, agencies, Tribes, managers, and others engaged in forest restoration and wildfire management.

The appointment is a full‑time, mentored research position designed to develop the Postdoctoral Scholar as an independent scientist with expertise at the interface of forest restoration and social science.

Working closely with the ERI's partners, the Postdoctoral Scholar will build upon partner research and information needs aligning with the ERI's mission of fire management and forest restoration; collaboratively work with partners to develop research related to these needs; complete research using a variety of social and political science methods; synthesize and publish research results in a variety of accessible formats;

and ensure that information is readily available and communicated to partners. These research, partnership, and communication activities serve the goal of accelerating the pace and scale of forest restoration to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.

• 60% - Research
• Design, develop, implement, and guide research, analysis, and application of social science research related to forest restoration in the Southwest U.S.
• Utilize social scientific methods, including but not limited to primary and secondary social science research methods (i.e. surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.), policy analysis, economic analysis, or other bodies of knowledge aligned with the ERI's mission and this position's focus on Human Dimensions.
• Topical areas include but are not limited to perceptions of forest restoration and wildfire management, perceptions and impacts of wilderness management, or the use of formal partnership agreements in agency forest management.
• 15% - Collaboration and Partnerships
• Maintain productive relationships and partnerships with affected entities engaged with the ERI who shape the ERI's program of work.
• Coordinate on Human Dimensions research with the other Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERIs).
• Assist ERI staff with collaboration and partnerships across all lands.
• 15% - Dissemination, Scholarly Output, and Communication
• Lead and collaborate in the development of publications (white papers, working papers, fact sheets, reports, etc.) as relevant to communicate scientific findings to affected entities and partners.
• Lead or collaborate in the development and…