Post Doctoral Fellow-Economics

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The International Arctic Research Center (IARC) seeks candidates for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Economics/Public Finance for one year with possible extension based on performance and available funding. The position will be part of IARC's partnership with the Alaska Native Health Consortium (ANTHC), under a NOAA-funded resilience and adaptation initiative, expanding climate adaptation technical assistance for Alaska Native communities. This position will be responsible for a) developing a synthesis of existing economic analysis relevant for small community adaptation to climate-related hazards and b) conducting econometric analysis of the social cost of in-action, specifically analyzing the impacts on multi-level governance fiscal sustainability and trade-offs between funding services and disaster recovery. 

The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with ANTHC's Center for Climate and Health and Center for Environmentally Threatened Communities (CETC). In this position you will fully participate in research and related scholarly activities including leading research and data collection initiatives, developing and maintaining partnerships, building capacity, and mobilizing knowledge  (e.g., publications, presentations).

The postdoctoral fellow will be supervised by Dr. Tobias Schwoerer (IARC PI) in close collaboration with leadership at CETC, emphasizing growing research skills in a team science environment while working independently and collaboratively within IARC and ANTHC.

The postdoctoral position is funded through a NOAA-funded project called: Stronger, Together: Expanding Climate Adaptation and Technical Assistance for Frontline Alaska Native Communities, benefiting more than 100 remote Alaska Native communities. 

To thrive in this role, applicants must have a PhD in economics with emphasis on public finance and academic training in the social sciences. We seek candidates with a strong interest or experience working in transdisciplinary teams and using mostly quantitative but also qualitative research methods. The successful applicant is enthusiastic about making meaningful contributions through their research and working in a highly collaborative environment inside and outside of academia. We seek applicants with demonstrated creativity, initiative, strong time management and organization skills, and strong oral and written communications skills including engagement with non-academic audiences and policy makers. Experience working with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian cultures is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of applied econometrics, public finance, health economics, development economics, and micro- or macro economics 

• Experience analyzing government budgets and other public finance documents 

• Strong data management skills

• Implementation of welfare economic approaches using public finance or public health data

• Familiarity with government budgets and public finance documents or public health data

• Ability to collect, integrate, and analyze data from personal interviews and surveys

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

• Strong publication record and ability to communicate research findings effectively

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team

• Knowledge of interdisciplinary research methods and procedures 

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally both orally and in writing

• Awareness and understanding of Alaska Native Cultures

• Demonstrated ability for cross-cultural communication and interest in engaging with Tribal and -Agency partners and the general public

• Ability to travel to remote (not road-connected) rural Arctic communities

• Knowledge of climate impacts and adaptation in Alaska and the Arctic 

Minimum Qualifications:

PhD (*not yet required but must have it in hand by the time of hiring and completed by June 2026) in Economics, Public Finance or related field with emphasis on welfare economics with applications in the climate change context or similar. A valid driver's license and clean driving record in compliance with UA Safe Driving Criteria. 

Position Details:

This position is located in Anchorage with a flexible hybrid work arrangements in accordance with UA regulations. This is a full-time, term-funded post doctoral position FLSA exempt with a 9-month base appointment (+3 months extension) and complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, faculty time off (leave), 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. The position is represented by United Academics (UNAC). unitedacademicsak.org/

Special Instructions: 

Please attached a cover letter, curriculum vitae (CV), informal transcripts, and first-author writing sample, and the names and contact information of three (3) professional references with your application

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.  Review of application materials will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified

The University of Alaska (UA) reserves the right to require employees to work on-site at the UA facilities. Hybrid and remote work may be approved for employees based in Alaska at the University's discretion. Remote work for employees based outside the State of Alaska may be approved only in exceptional circumstances or when required by the position's job duties.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Delia Lopez-Ketzler, IARC's HR Coordinator, at dketzler@alaska.edu or call 907-474-1960.

*The position is term-funded and is reviewed annually for appointment renewal at the university's discretion. 

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at ua-ada@alaska.edu.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.