Postbaccalaureate Fellows in Community-Based Earth and Environmental Science Research

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) Community Geoscience Initiative (CGI), based in the Dept. of Earth System Science (ESS), is recruiting recent college graduates for paid one-year postbaccalaureate (postbac) fellowships for our third cohort of CGI Fellows. Fellows will be hired as full-time employees (Junior Specialists) in the ESS department with an annual salary of $55,000 for a one-year appointment that includes generous benefits. The Fellowship period will run from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. This opportunity is open to all recent BA or BS recipients (must have received degree after January 1, 2024) in geoscience or related disciplines (e.g., earth system science, environmental science and policy, geology, geography, ecology, chemistry, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, etc.) from any institution. Fellows must be authorized to work in the US.

As UCI employees, CGI Postbac Fellows will receive performance reviews based on their fulfillment of the responsibilities outlined below.

CGI Postbac Fellows will:

• Learn new technical skills and gain hands-on research experience with UCI faculty who are working on cutting-edge earth and environmental science research.
• Work closely with local community-based organizations to conduct team-based research projects that address environmental issues of interest to the community.
• Participate in seminars, workshops, and classes on social science, geoscience, and community-based research methods.
• Receive guidance from a diverse network of mentors.
• Participate in professional development activities designed to help achieve career goals, whether that be entering the workforce or pursuing graduate studies.
• Join an inclusive learning community of students, researchers, faculty, and staff dedicated to conducting research that centers the needs of communities that are most affected by climate and environmental change.

The Community Geoscience Initiative strives to foster a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative working environment that welcomes people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more. We also encourage applications from those who have had limited opportunities to participate in research or professional development activities during their undergraduate studies.

An expected or recent B.S. or B.A. degree (conferred between January 1, 2024, and August 31, 2026) in geoscience or related disciplines (e.g., earth system science, environmental science and policy, geology, geography, ecology, chemistry, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, etc.).

• 2 required (contact information only)

Reference letters will only be requested for those who are under serious consideration (long list). References should be able to speak to your academic and/or personal background, research potential, and overall suitability for the program.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• 
  APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.
  
  

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.