Senior Research Associate in Behavior and Sustainability

Position Description: Seeking a candidate with a strong disciplinary background in psychology, communications, behavioral economics, or decision science and knowledge of the linkages between human behavior and sustainability. The ideal candidate will have core theoretical interests related to pro-social behavior, human wellbeing and/or behavioral change, and demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary research team on topics related to human-environmental systems. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to research at the University at the intersection of human behavior and sustainability, as well as mentor graduate students. This position is a full-time, 12-month position with research expectations. This position is jointly funded by the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) and the Sustainable and Resilient Economy (SRE) program at the Ohio State University (OSU). SENR is an interdisciplinary academic unit dedicated to the use and management of natural resources in an economically efficient, environmentally compatible, and socially responsible manner. Faculty in SENR within the Environmental Social Sciences graduate specialization investigate environmental problems from such perspectives as psychology, political science, public policy, and sociology, and work collaboratively on cross-cutting research initiatives through the Environmental and Social Sustainability Lab (ESS Lab) and the SRE program. The SRE program seeks to advance sustainability science by developing a more holistic understanding of sustainable and resilient production and consumption systems, human-environment interactions, and innovations in sustainable technologies and governance. Through the SRE program, the appointee will also work with a multidisciplinary research team that includes other behavioral scientists, economists, environmental scientists and engineers affiliated with SRE.

Detailed Job Description: The candidate will support existing research in the ESS Lab in SENR, as well as support new interdisciplinary research working with affiliated SRE faculty. Existing projects that the candidate might join include: changing resident behavior to improve stormwater runoff in central Ohio, understanding and quantifying household Food- Energy-Water-prints (FEWprints), examining drivers of residential solar panel adoption and subsequent consumption patterns, measuring the social and behavioral impacts of green infrastructure, and assessing the synergies and tradeoffs between well-being and sustainability at the individual and neighborhood level. Specifically, the candidate will 1) participate in existing research, 2) assist in the development of new proposals for funding, 3) support manuscript development; 4) prepare presentations and present findings at local, regional and national meetings; 5) mentor graduate students doing ESS/SRE projects; and 6) build relationships with external partners interested in understanding the role of human behavior in addressing sustainability issues.

Essential Duties 20% Conducts new research (e.g., develops research instruments, conducts data collection). 20% Analyzes and prepares data for publication in scientific outlets. 20% Mentors graduate and undergraduate students working on ESS/SRE projects, while serving as the primary advisor for the ESS lab manager. 20% Supports collaborative teams of faculty across OSU in the social and behavioral sciences working on sustainability issues and assists in the development of new proposals with these teams. 10% Works with the SRE program to build relationships with external partners and explains the expertise available within the lab. 10% Other duties (e.g., serves as the point of contact for external requests for collaboration from private and public stakeholders, solicits interest from appropriate ESS lab affiliates when requests for research are fielded).

Qualifications Required qualifications include a PhD in a relevant social science discipline; experience conducing quantitative social science research and data analysis; experience with leading statistical packages (i.e., SPSS, SAS, R, LISREL/AMOS); and experience in the preparation of technical reports and research manuscripts. Successful completion of a criminal background check is required. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: The Ohio State University is committed to establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment, and encouraging all members of our learning community to reach their full potential. We are responsive to dual-career families and strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. We are an NSF Advance Institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium.

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified women, minorities, Vietnam-era veterans, disabled veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Salary/Support: Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience. The Ohio State University offers one of the most comprehensive benefits packages in the nation, which includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; tuition authorization; paid vacation and sick leave; ten paid holidays; and State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Program. A start-up package, including discretionary funding, will be provided.

Application: Send a curriculum vita and a letter of interest summarizing your qualifications, areas of expertise, research interests, and career goals. Please include a statement addressing how you match our required and/or preferred qualifications. Also include in the application packet digital copies of or links to three relevant publications. Provide contact information for three qualified references but do not have letters of recommendation sent until we request that you do so. Application materials (with the exception of letters of recommendation, which will be requested later) should be sent in a single PDF file as an email attachment to Dr. Robyn Wilson, Associate Professor at Wilson.1376@osu.edu.

Initial consideration will be given to applications received by August 30, 2017. Review of applications will continue until the position has been filled.