Postdocs Applying Climate Expertise Fellowship Program
2011 Announcement of Opportunity for Hosting Institutions
“Keeping pace with a changing climate”
The PACE Fellowship Program is building a pool of scientists qualified to transfer advances in climate science and climate prediction into climate-related decision frameworks and decision tools. (Refer to websites www.vsp.ucar.edu/pace and www.usclivar.org for additional details and background information.)
As described in the program prospectus (in weblinks above) the postdoctoral applicants vie for fellowships to research and develop tools that will apply climate prediction information to climate-impacted decisions. In each fellowship, the work is conducted under the specification and direction of institutional partners: a Climate-Science institution (hereafter 1.CS partner) and a Decision-Making institution (hereafter
2.DM partner). This announcement of opportunity is for such collaborating institutions that wish to host PACE fellows.
A joint statement of intent, which is coordinated between the proposing CS and the DM partners, is required. This statement of intent serves as an application on the part of the institutional partners to  participate in PACE and to host a postdoctoral fellow. The statements of intent (i.e. applications), not to exceed 3 pages, will be vetted by an UCAR Oversight Committee. Acceptance of institutional partners to participate in PACE will be based on how well the statements of intent align with PACE goals. Strong preference is given to institutional partners focusing on real-time climate-impacted decisions.
The statements of intent will inform the postdoctoral candidate finalists about the research possibilities and working arrangements that exist for each project, and serve as an agreement on the terms and commitments of the participating institutions.
Statements of Intent are due by 1 January, and should contain the following information:
Description of Partners
- Describe each institution, briefly but adequately to inform the potential postdoc about the job they would be doing : what do you do, what are you about?
- State the nature of current or planned institutional collaboration.
- List institutional commitments of both partners (e.g., office space, administrative support, institutional affiliations, mentoring responsibilities, travel allowance to support postdoctoral activities, etc.).
Description of the Problems, Decisions and/or Issues
- List or describe the themes and problems or decisions that will be addressed.
- Describe why you want to participate in the program including a discussion of near and long-term interests in climate-related issues and problems.
- Indicate the anticipated outcomes and benefits of the postdoctoral project.
Mentoring Roles and Responsibilities
- List the contact individuals, including contact information. These should be the identified supervisors of the postdoc, but if they are not, list those also.
- Provide a statement of agreement on mutual mentoring; including the projected schedule of how the postdoc will divide their time between institutions.
Other Issues
- Confirm commitment of matching funds from DM partner. Contact Julie Cross (303) 497-8684, or e-mail jcross@ucar.edu with questions, re: financial details and mechanisms for transferring funds to UCAR VSP.
- Describe the publication policy (note that free and open publication is strongly encouraged).
Applications may be submitted in electronic form, preferably *.pdf, via email attachments to vspapply@ucar.edu. If unable to send electronically, please mail to:
PACE Fellowship Program
c/o UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000
For further information, call (303) 497- 8630 or e-mail vspapply@ucar.edu.
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is an EO/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace.
Estimate of Costs
Postdoctoral fellowship appointments are generally for two years.
FY2010/FY2011 UCAR Postdoctoral annual salaries are:
- First year salary $56,000
- Second year salary $58,500
The Decision Making Institution host pays one-half of the annual cost of the postdoctoral fellow. The estimated cost of one-half of one year's support of a postdoctoral fellowship (currently about $66,415) includes the following:
- Postdoctoral salary and UCAR's full benefits package, including group health, dental, TIAA/CREF retirement, life insurance, and paid time off
- Visa fees (if needed)
- Relocation allowance (if needed)
- Scientific travel allowance
- Portion of the Search and Selection expenses
- UCAR Administrative support and overheads
There are multiple ways to transfer funds to UCAR:
- Directly to UCAR via a contract, grant, or purchase award
- Via NOAA/UCAR Coop agreement (a fee is charged for transfers under this agreement)
Depending upon the award’s period of performance, it is possible that unused funds carry forward for use in subsequent years. UCAR’s fiscal year is October 1 through September 30, for current overhead rate application. If benefit and overhead rates change, new rates become effective October 1 and apply to carry forward funding.
Please contact Julie Cross (303) 497-8634, or e-mail jcross@ucar.edu with questions re: financial details.
1 Climate Research Institutions: The CR partner should be involved in the development, production and application of climate information. Examples of such institutions include, but are not limited to, universities tied to the RISAs, Regional Climate Centers, and federal research facilities.
2 Decision Making Institutions: The DM partner is involved in climate-related risk management and decision-making. Examples include national-, regional-, state-, or municipal-level agencies and organizations (public and non-profit) that manage or regulate natural resources or produce a public good. Note that the DM partner is expected to cover approximately 50% of the cost of the postdoctoral researcher.
Updated 21-Sep-2010
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