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The Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) is an interdisciplinary team of scientists based at UC Santa Barbara that conducts cutting-edge, data-driven research on the power, limitations, and design of market-based approaches to tackle the world's most pressing environmental problems. In collaboration with implementing partners, emLab aims to better align environmental objectives and economic incentives in support of sustainable livelihoods and a resilient planet. emLab’s Ocean & Fisheries program generates insights into the economics, ecology, and politics of oceans and fisheries to spur innovation in fisheries management, strategic marine spatial planning, and the blue economy.

emLab is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with a background in fisheries science, conservation planning, and/or natural resource economics to conduct research and analyses to support a project funded by The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, titled “Using Outcomes from Marine Protected Area Implementation to Infer Potential Socioeconomic Consequences of Offshore Energy Development to Commercial Fisheries.” The purpose of the project is to describe the detectable socioeconomic consequences experienced by the commercial fishing industry due to the implementation of formal or de facto marine protected areas (MPAs) in California and elsewhere, and to use this information to inform impact analyses of prospective offshore energy projects, including offshore wind and wave farms, along the U.S. West Coast. In particular, this project aims to address the following questions:

1) Given available sources of data and analysis techniques, what socioeconomic indicators (e.g., number of trips, distance traveled, catch per unit effort, etc.) will best measure potential impacts to commercial fishing from offshore wind and wave energy development?
2) Which ecological, cultural, and governance factors and metrics enhance the interpretation of socioeconomic indicators identified in the first question?
3) Using outcomes from previous case studies, what are the predicted short-term socioeconomic consequences of MPA implementation to commercial fishing sectors from proposed renewable energy development offshore California and elsewhere?

The Postdoctoral Researcher will primarily lead the effort of modeling the potential socioeconomic consequences of prospective offshore energy farms to commercial fishers, which will be informed by a retrospective study that identifies observed MPA impacts to commercial fishers in California. The Postdoctoral Researcher will lead several peer-reviewed publications and present results at scientific meetings. Results from this project will inform public policy on renewable energy development and allow the postdoc to interact with government officials and agencies at local, state, and federal levels. The Postdoctoral Researcher will have the opportunity to collaborate with project principal investigators at UC Santa Barbara, University of Hawaii, and California Polytechnic State University.

Postdoctoral Researcher position, with salary commensurate with qualifications. Full benefits package included.

The position is open until filled.

The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching and service.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.