Agency: University of Wyoming  

Start Date: August 15, 2023 

Apply By: March 1st, 2023 (rolling deadline) 

Job Category: Graduate Research Assistantship, MA or PhD 

Salary: $23,500/$28,128 per year + tuition + health insurance  

Location: Laramie and statewide travel in Wyoming  

Description: Martha Inouye is recruiting a MS or PhD level student to join her in the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center at the University of Wyoming. This student will work on an NSF EPSCoR-funded project called WY-ACT (Wyoming Anticipating Climate Transitions). This project seeks to help Wyoming stakeholders and communities anticipate and prepare for changing water availability. The 5-year grant will support creation of integrative models showing the cascading effects of changed water availability through socio-environmental systems with implications for hydrology, ecology, economics, and dependent human communities.  

This research assistantship will focus on one primary element of the grant called the Teacher-Researcher Knowledge Exchange, or TRKE (pronounced “trek”). This is a cross-disciplinary professional development program designed for K-12 educators, place-based informal educators, community organizations, businesses, and university scientists to come together and co-design the ways they will exchange pedagogical and scientific expertise for mutual benefit. This graduate student will support the co-design/co-production process among participants in the TRKE program and contribute to research on this program. This is an opportunity to work with a large, interdisciplinary team on a relevant and current topic. There will be opportunities for networking across the state and across the project team with graduate students and postdocs from other disciplinary backgrounds. 

Ideal candidates for this position will possess outstanding written and oral communication skills, have experience collaborating and/or working as part of a team, have experience taking ownership of collaborative projects, and have experience conducting social science field research (e.g., conducting and analyzing focus groups or interviews, performing document analysis, and/or implementing and analyzing participant surveys). Candidates should have an interest in climate change adaptation, working with diverse stakeholder groups, and facilitating conversations between science and education fields. Candidates should show creative and flexible thinking, be self-motivated and able to work independently with guidance and support from project collaborators.  

Given the nature of the TRKE program, the candidate selected will have the flexibility to pursue a variety of degrees, based on interest and experience. These could include a degree within the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center, or others. Discussions with project leadership will be had during selection process. 

The position is the equivalent of 20 hours/week and will cover 9 credits of tuition during the fall/spring (no summer tuition) and student health insurance.  

Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with interest OR experience in interdisciplinary and collaborative problem solving; climate change adaptation, science education and communication, and/or working in rural communities. Applicants will be considered who have a degree in any field, with preference given to social science, education, or interdisciplinary fields. 

To apply: Please send the following materials as one PDF document to Martha Inouye at minouye@uwyo.edu with the subject "Your Name_TRKE MS Position”. This packet should include: 

(1) Cover letter/narrative that explains your desire to pursue graduate education, your research interests, career goals, and highlights relevant experience;  

(2) Resume or CV including degree(s) earned, GPA, and contact information for at least three references;  

(3) Unofficial copy of transcripts; and 

(4) An example manuscript or report you have written (if available). Or, an explanation of a collaborative project to which you’ve contributed. 

Closing date and time: March 1st, 2023 at 5 p.m. MST. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after this deadline until a candidate is offered the position.