The Global Land Use and Environment Group (GLUE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has openings for graduate students and post-doctoral scientists to conduct research focused on cattle supply chains in the Brazilian Amazon and how they impact land use, biodiversity conservation, climate, and agricultural production. Their work will contribute to a large, ongoing project investigating the outcomes and pathways of zero-deforestation commitments. The projects are currently very broad, and we welcome and encourage new ideas! Examples of possible research topics include analysis of leather supply chains in Brazil and internationally, forest conservation and economic outcomes of various policies and company actions, and solutions to reconcile agricultural production with biodiversity.

The candidate will join a thriving and interdisciplinary team that integrates property-level and supply chain analyses, data science, econometrics, and field surveys to better understand land use change associated with commodity production. As part of our group, they would work closely with policymakers, companies, media, and environmental groups with the aim to leverage our rigorous science to make change.

Ideal candidates will be interested in publishing papers in scientific journals, writing policy briefs and communicating the results of science to broader audiences, and be proficient in speaking and writing in English, as well as in Portuguese preferably. Experience in Brazil or with cattle production is a plus. Students are encouraged to apply to both the Department of Geography and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (Applied and Agricultural Economics is also an option). The Post-Doctoral position is flexible and could also be a shorter-term or part-time consultancy.

Ideal qualifications include some of the following:

•  Experience designing farmer surveys and leading field research.
•  Analytical skills such as econometrics and statistics.
•  Expertise in GIS and remote sensing.
•  Knowledge of Supply Chain Sustainability Initiatives.
•  Practice working with stakeholders such as companies, policymakers and NGOs.
•  Portuguese language skills.

GLUE is a vibrant and energetic research group, with strong experience working in Brazil.

Madison is widely recognized for its warm and international community, high quality of life, culture and arts scene, and easy access to natural areas. Costs of living are moderate, and public transportation and bicycle paths are easy commuting options.

For more information: 

Global Land Use and Environment (GLUE) Group

TO APPLY: 

Please submit a cover letter detailing qualifications and interest, CV, and phone and email addresses of three references to Holly Gibbs (hkgibbs@wisc.edu). Finalists will be contacted by November 15, 2023.