Rocks under water. Photo by Steve Huntington on Unsplash.
Photo by Steve Huntington on Unsplash

Job Opportunity – Graduate Student Researcher

  • by Christine A Parisek

GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER – 50% position:

Policy and governance in California water management & climate adaptation

 

We are looking to hire a new member to our research team, focused on future water management in California under a changing climate. Our research is focused on envisioning and modeling future climate adaptation scenarios. The work encompasses two interrelated UC research projects, Just Transitions in the Delta: Drought, Salinity and Sea Level Rise: https://delta-just-transitions-ucdavis.hub.arcgis.com/, and COEQWAL (Collaboratory for Equity in Water Allocation): https://coeqwal.berkeley.edu/.

We are seeking a UC Davis graduate student to assist with research, data collection, and analysis related to policy and governance questions related to future water management, and to assist with the project’s participatory scenario planning process. Specifically, the candidate selected for this position will assist our team in assessing and envisioning the policy and governance structures through which different, co-designed climate adaptation scenarios might be actualized.

Ideal candidates will have knowledge, background, and research interest in CA policy, state government, and water law, with knowledge of management challenges in California’s Delta being particularly useful. Ideal research experience includes mixed-methods data collection approaches (particularly interviews and focus groups), governance, policy and decision-making analysis, and community/public engagement. Candidate will be expected to perform a range of research tasks, have excellent communication, organizational and writing skills, enjoy working with people, and have a passion to design a better world.

This is a half-time (50%) position, starting as soon as possible. The position will last through the end of the spring quarter 2026. It may be possible to extend the position through the summer and fall quarter of 2026. Position will be open until filled. For the above position, please send a letter of interest and resume (or CV) to Brett Milligan ([email protected]).