Postdoctoral Scholar in Social Life Cycle Assessment of Cultivated Meat at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

We are seeking an outstanding candidate to conduct original research on the social performance of cultivated meat in the United States. This exciting, high-impact position is supported by an award by the United States Department of Agriculture on the social implications of cellular agriculture technology in the livestock industry. This position will be based at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, located on Tufts University's Boston, MA campus. The Friedman School is a rare blend of interdisciplinary nutrition research and policy expertise, and a leader in science, education, and public policy, whose faculty work together to address large and complex food systems issues across the globe. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to join over 200 Friedman School graduate students, other postdoctoral scholars, and faculty in seminars, workshops, and other scholarly and social activities as part of the Friedman School, the Tufts University Center on Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA), the larger Tufts community, and the Boston-area community of food systems scholars.

Duties & Responsibilities

Dr. Nicole Tichenor Blackstone will serve as the primary mentor for the postdoctoral scholar, with additional supervision from Dr. Sean Cash. Other team members include Drs. Katherine Fuller (Economist, Oregon State University), Alexander Blanchette (Anthropologist, Tufts School of Arts & Sciences), Udita Sanga (Systems Scientist, Tufts Nutrition) and collaborators elsewhere. The postdoctoral scholar will work with our interdisciplinary team to design and conduct a social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) of US cultivated beef under different future scenarios. There are also opportunities to contribute to related projects such as conducting combined assessments of social and environmental impacts of cultivated meat by leveraging ongoing environmental LCA (E-LCA) work; working on issues of consumer acceptance and public attitudes toward cultivated meat; and contributing to the generation of new studies and grant proposals. Much of this work is coordinated through the USDA-funded National Institute for Cellular Agriculture.

Key responsibilities of the postdoctoral scholar will include:

• Collecting and processing secondary data to parameterize a set of social indicators for US beef and cultivated beef, including publicly-available datasets, special tabulations of federal datasets, and social life cycle assessment databases (e.g., Social Hotspots Database)
• Conducting data analysis and interpretation of S-LCA model results
• Designing, conducting, and analyzing surveys and/or interviews to fill data gaps
• Supporting the implementation of stakeholder workshops focused on potential social impacts under different future scenarios
• Developing peer-reviewed publications, and abstracts for presenting research findings internally and at scientific meetings
• Supervising graduate student and intern projects

A major emphasis will be placed on leading original analyses and manuscripts, career development, and transition toward an independent research career; up to 10% of time will be available to support the chosen candidates ongoing and new independent projects. A competitive salary, benefits, and travel/educational opportunities in the interdisciplinary environment at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy are offered. Funding to support this position is available for approximately 2 years, with an initial appointment period of 12 months. Reappointment is possible contingent on a review of performance and funding availability. Position available starting Fall 2025. Candidates from all over the world are encouraged to apply who are willing to conduct their research work in the US, at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA. 

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

Applicants must have a PhD/DrPH/ScD in industrial ecology, quantitative sustainability assessment, applied economics, quantitative social science, sustainability science, interdisciplinary food systems science, or a related field. A strong record of original, first-author publications in quantitatively focused social sciences or life cycle assessment is essential. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency working with input-output (IO) based datasets or conducting IO-based modeling, as well as using R or STATA software for data management and analysis. Candidates must have excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work independently and with collaborators.  Applicants must be familiar with the concept of life cycle assessment and have a strong interest in sustainability, livestock production, and/or cellular agriculture.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

Candidates with prior experience in social or environmental life cycle assessment, as well as experience working with the livestock, cellular agriculture, or alternative/complementary protein sectors is preferred. Preferred skills include 1) developing indicators, scales, and/or indices, 2) designing, conducting, and analyzing interviews and/or surveys and 3) using Geographic Information Systems software for mapping and modeling. 

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until January 3, 2025, but we encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. Application must include:

1. Cover letter describing previous achievements, research interests, and why the candidate is suitable for this position (maximum 2 pages).
2. CV including a list of relevant publications.
3. Names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers for at least two academic referees.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Tufts University, founded in 1852, prioritizes quality teaching, highly competitive basic and applied research, and a commitment to active citizenship locally, regionally, and globally. Tufts University has also committed to becoming an anti-racist institution and prides itself on the continuous improvement of diversity, equity and inclusion work. Current and prospective employees of the university are expected to have and continuously develop skill in, and disposition for, positively engaging with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. See the Universitys Non-Discrimination statement and policy here https://oeo.tufts.edu/policies-procedures/non-discrimination/. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at oeo@tufts.edu. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/

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