Jun 6, 2006

IIASA - Postdoctoral Program 2006

The goals of the IIASA Postdoctoral Program are to encourage and promote the development of young researchers and offer them the opportunity to further their careers by gaining hands-on professional research experience in a highly international scientific environment; and to enrich IIASA’s intellectual environment and help achieve research program goals. The Institute provides full funding for up to two postdoctoral researchers per year.

This is in addition to the Postdoctoral Research Scholars financed by some of IIASA's National Member Organizations (NMOs): In three countries – Finland, Sweden, and the Netherlands – additional opportunities for funded postdoctoral stays at IIASA are available (see contact details at the bottom of the page).

Fields
IIASA conducts interdisciplinary scientific studies on environmental, economic, technological, and social issues in the context of human dimensions of global change. The work is organized in research programs and special projects. Candidates for the IIASA Postdoctoral Program can apply to work with any research program or special project. To explore productive synergies, candidates are encouraged to discuss, at an early stage of preparing their application, their scientific interests and research ideas with the intended IIASA hosts.

Conditions and Eligibility
Applicants must have an advanced university degree equivalent to a PhD at the time of taking up the post-doc position, a proven record of research accomplishments, and a solid working knowledge of English. The typical period for IIASA-funded postdoctoral support is 12-24 months. Preference will be given to applicants who are nationals of countries where IIASA has an National Member Organization and who have held a doctoral degree for less than five years at the application deadline.

The candidates are expected to conduct their own research within one of IIASA's research programs or special projects on topics closely related to IIASA's agenda. IIASA provides office space, administrative support, desktop computing, library access, and other research-related resources.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The quality of their proposed research.

The relevance of the research proposal for ongoing or planned research activities at IIASA. Proposals relevant to two or more IIASA programs are possible and encouraged.
The candidate’s academic merit and potential for successful research while at IIASA, as evidenced by his or her graduate record, publication record, and letters of recommendation.

A demonstrated ability to think and work independently as well as in a team.
The candidate’s depth of experience with interdisciplinary research.

The degree to which a candidate would contribute to the long-term balance of postdoctoral positions across programs, gender, and country of origin.

Funding
The financial resources provided by the IIASA Postdoctoral Program include an allowance for relocation expenses to and from Laxenburg and a salary that is internationally competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Applications
Interested eligible researchers are invited to submit the following application material:

A completed personal information form should be submitted on-line.
In addition, please "snail-mail" the following materials to
Barbara Hauser (see contact details below).

Research plan for intended work at IIASA (maximum length: 4,000 words; including title; concise summary of relevant present state of knowledge; importance, scope, and specific objectives of the planned work; envisaged work schedule; anticipated results and output; list of cited references).

Discussion of the relevance of the planned research for IIASA’s agenda (maximum length: 500 words).

Letter of support by chosen IIASA host.

Names and contact details of three individuals who can be contacted to provide a letter of reference concerning the applicant.

The information submitted will be held in strict confidence.

Application Deadline
Applications to the IIASA-funded part of the Postdoctoral Program will be accepted until 15 August 2006, with decisions to be made known to all candidates by 15 September 2006. (In future years, the application deadline will be in February.)

Review and Acceptance
The selection committee for the IIASA Postdoctoral Program is composed of IIASA scientists. Additional input may be solicited from external reviewers familiar with the proposed research topics.

The acceptance of a candidate is based on the recommendation of the review committee. It also requires written confirmation from the respective IIASA Program Leader indicating the willingness to accommodate the postdoc.

Contact Details
Candidates applying for IIASA-funded Postdoctoral Scholarships should fill in and submit the on-line form and mail the other materials to:

Barbara Hauser, Post-Doctoral Coordinator
IIASA
Schlossplatz 1
A-2361 Laxenburg
Austria

Further Funding Opportunities
Currently, IIASA NMOs in Finland and the Netherlands, as well as the Kempe Foundation in Sweden, offer further funding opportunities for young researchers to spend postdoctoral stays at IIASA. Contact details:

Ms. Tiina Forsman
The Academy of Finland
Vilhonvuorenkatu 6
P.O. Box 99
FIN-00501 Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358-9-774-88-232
E-mail: tiina.forsman@aka.fi

Dr. Coenraad L. Krijger
Department of International Relations
Netherlands Organization for
Scientific Research (NWO)
P.O. Box 93120
NL-2509 AC The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +31-70-344-05-51
E-mail: krijger@nwo.nl

The Kempe Foundation
c/o Professor Lars Carlsson
Division of Political Science
Luleå University of Technology
SE-971 87 Luleå
Sweden
Tel: +46-920-491814
Email: lars.carlsson@ies.luth.se

http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/YSP/pdoc/index.html