UCLA Post-Doctoral Research Position

UCLA Post-Doctoral Research Position

One-year appointment beginning October, 2013, with possibility for renewal. Review of applications begins August 15; submission deadline is September 15.

We seek a postdoctoral researcher to join our research project (2012-2015), The Transformation of Knowledge, Culture, and Practice in Data-Driven Science: A Knowledge Infrastructures Perspective http://knowledgeinfrastructures.gseis.ucla.edu/index.html. We are conducting interview, ethnographic, and document studies of scientific data practices such as data collection, analysis, management, sharing, and reuse at four distributed research projects in astronomy and earth sciences. Our project is funded by the Sloan Foundation Digital Information Technology Program http://www.sloan.org/program/28

The postdoctoral researcher will participate actively in the collaboration, including the design, conduct, and analysis of interviews, document analysis, ethnographic fieldwork, and writing for publication. The postdoctoral researcher will gain experience in collaborative research, research project organization, and digital data research practices. The project is based at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and residence nearby is required for the duration of the postdoctoral research appointment. Some travel is required for research and conferences.

Required background includes completion of the PhD; experience in interview, document analysis, or ethnography; strong writing skills; research experience studying astronomy, physical sciences, or earth sciences; substantial knowledge of scholarly communication, practice and policy in data-driven research,Information Studies, or Science, Technology, and Society studies. Preferred background includes experience in writing for publication, expertise in knowledge organization (metadata, ontologies, archival analysis), and in the physical or earth sciences.

Please submit a statement of interest that discusses your qualifications and interests with respect to the required and preferred background for the position. Your application should also include two scholarly writing samples (e.g., refereed journal articles or conference papers, dissertation), curriculum vitae, and list of three references. Send these to Prof. Christine Borgman, PI, borgman@gseis.ucla.edu and to Prof. Sharon Traweek, Co-PI traweek@history.ucla.edu

The starting salary is $50,000 per year, plus benefits. Selected candidate may enroll in UC sponsored benefits or opt out. Official documentation for completion of the PhD is required (certificate of completion, transcript, or diploma).   

Work is to be done 12 months of the year, excluding university holidays; the postdoctoral researcher is entitled to 24 paid personal days and 12 paid sick days per year.  For further information about postdoctoral appointments at UCLA: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/postdocs.html 
Postdoctoral Researchers at UC are represented by UAW Local 5810. http://uaw5810.org/

More information about the investigators:
Christine Borgman, Professor & Presidential Chair in Information Studies
http://is.gseis.ucla.edu/cborgman/
Sharon Traweek, UCLA Gender Studies & History Departments
http://www.genderstudies.ucla.edu/people/faculty/Sharon-Traweek
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/traweek/

Interviews will be conducted at UCLA, by video, and at conferences attended by the principal investigators prior to the time the position is filled.