Urban Just Transitions Postdoctoral Fellow Application Deadline: October 14, 2022
Value and Duration: $70,000/year for two years

Description of duties:

The Urban Just Transitions Cluster at the University of Toronto Scarborough is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to conduct research on justice, equity, climate action, and urban just transitions in Toronto, Canada. The Fellow will be affiliated with the Urban Just Transitions Cluster, which works with community organizations to understand how to accelerate fair and equitable transitions to cities that do not produce carbon pollution while enabling all residents to live good lives. We aim to further our understanding of how urban just transitions to address the climate crisis are unfolding and how to accelerate the transition to zero carbon economies, societies, and energy systems without exacerbating existing inequalities.

The Urban Just Transitions Cluster takes community engaged scholarship approach that centres on relationship building and resourcing non-academic partners pursuing urban just transitions for their communities. The research for the cluster will be undertaken through diverse methodologies (potentially including a variety of qualitative/quantitative/ethnographic approaches) and a co-production/transdisciplinary model. The Postdoctoral Fellow will further the research and community engagement goals of the cluster and have the opportunity to pursue their own research related to urban just transitions. The Postdoctoral Fellow will also contribute to the management of the cluster including logistics and overseeing research assistants. The UJT Cluster is a pillar of the new Climate Positive Energy Initiative, which is a tri-campus University of Toronto initiative.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to pursue independent as well as collaborative research, strengthen skills, and lead and co-author papers. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work with a transdisciplinary team of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and community partners from diverse backgrounds. We are strongly committed to diversity and intentional inclusion and encourage applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+ persons.

Salary: $70,000 per year including benefits for two years. Qualifications:

  1. Candidates must have an awarded PhD or near completion in a relevant field (note that completion does not mean convocation, but rather the satisfaction of all the requirements necessary for graduation).
  2. Candidates should have expertise in political, social, cultural transformations to address the climate crisis and inequality. Their proposed research should relate to aspects of achieving just transitions to zero carbon economies, societies, and energy systems. 
  1. Candidates should have strong writing skills and will be expected to contribute to high quality publications, grant applications, and outreach materials.
  2. Prior experience in interdisciplinary and community engaged or transdisciplinary research environments is a significant asset.
  3. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Further information:

https://urbanjusttransitions.ca/

Application:

Candidates interested in this position must submit the following to [email protected] and [email protected].

  1. Cover letter summarizing your experience and career goals, research interests and agenda related to the postdoctoral position, alignment with the Urban Just Transitions research cluster, and anticipated start date.
  2. A CV
  3. List of references (not reference letters)

Expected start date: Fall 2022
Term: Two years (with the possibility of one year extension)

Supervisors:

Dr. Laura Tozer, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, UTSC
Dr. Matthew Hoffmann, Professor, Department of Political Science, UTSC