NCSG Hiring Postdoctoral Researcher

Post-doctoral Researcher Position: Coupled Modeling of Transportation, Land- Use and Land Cover Models for Chesapeake Bay Watershed for

Deadline: February 15, 2021

Term: 2 years

Position Details

A two-year postdoctoral position is available to work with Dr. Sevgi Erdogan with the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) and a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Dartmouth College.

This post-doctoral researcher will have a key role in a newly funded, unique multi-disciplinary NSF project that will create a modelling system for the Chesapeake Bay and Watershed that represents human activities such as transportation, land use and land cover change, and their impacts on water quality, including the feedback from impaired water quality that triggers regulatory systems.

For a general overview of the project please see NSF Award Abstract #2009248: https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2009248&HistoricalAwards=false and project website https://sites.google.com/umces.edu/cnh-l-mdhesrf/home.

Job description

The Post-doc Researcher will lead model development efforts at the UMD-NCSG team. The UMD-NCSG team has a loosely coupled socio-environmental modeling system developed for the state of Maryland. For this project, the postdoctoral researcher will extend the transportation model to Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The watershed transportation model will be integrated with a land-use model, SILO (Simple Integrated Land Use Orchestrator, https://silo.zone/) to capture the interactions between land-use and transportation systems. This integrated watershed transportation and land-use model will be coupled with the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Land Cover Change model working closely with scientists at the USGS Chesapeake Bay Program Office. This model will form the basis of the built-environment (human) component of our human and estuarine systems model with regulatory feedbacks. Future scenarios will be implemented into this modeling system to reflect various changes in transportation, land-use and land cover due to e.g. climate change, technological changes, political and policy decisions etc. Post-doctoral researcher will be supported by graduate students, and will work closely with other project members from partnering institutions on model integration, scenario development and analysis.

The project will give a unique opportunity to work in a truly multi-disciplinary and multi- institutional team composed of Biogeochemical, Social Ecological Systems, Land Use, Climate, Hydrological, and Geographical modelers. While this position is specific to this NSF project, the candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate in other research and proposal efforts in a dynamic academic environment.

Qualifications:

We are looking for highly motivated and self-driven candidates with good interpersonal skills and the ability to thrive in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment. The successful applicant must have:

A PhD or equivalent University level diploma in civil engineering-transportation, urban planning, geographical sciences, computer science, earth sciences, or other related
Strong analytical and quantitative skills supported by strong programming experience. Knowledge and experience in Java and Python programming languages are
Expertise and experience in travel demand modeling, and software such as Cube Voyager (preferred), TransCAD, VISUM; familiarity with advanced transportation modeling open- source software such as MATSim (preferred), DTALite; and Land-use models e.g. SILO. Experience and familiarity with graphical user interfaces, GIS, data processing software is preferred.
Ability to understand and work with existing codes and open source software e.g. making necessary improvements, modifications, additions as needed and ability to implement scenarios in the
Proficiency in written and spoken English and strong communication skills, both personal and

Due to the ongoing pandemic in the United States, applications from U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be given priority but all applications will be given consideration.

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to apply by February 15, 2021 but review of applications will start immediately. Please submit your application material online to https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/80693 including the following documents: (1) a current CV, (2) a letter of motivation describing your interest, relevant experience and research plans in relation to this project, (3) names and contact information for at least 3 professional references. For questions regarding application process, information on the project details, position details, etc. please contact Sevgi Erdogan at serdogan at umd.edu.

The position is available immediately after position is filled. The initial appointment is for 1 year, and then renewable for a second year based on performance. After the second year, the continuation is contingent upon funding availability.

About the Center

The National Center for Smart Growth has an innovative multidisciplinary working environment, with staff expertise in the areas of travel forecasting, land use planning, land use forecasting and economics. The NCSG is affiliated with the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, A. James Clark School of Engineering, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, and School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. Further information can be found at https://www.umdsmartgrowth.org/

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Nick FinioJan 14No Comments

Professor Lung-Amam quoted in New York Times about securitization of public space in DC

Professor and Director of Community Development Willow Lung Amam was quoted in the New York Times on January 12th. Read the full story here.

WASHINGTON — The seven-foot-tall metal fencing that has sealed the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol grounds and fortified the Supreme Court across the street is temporary. But it portends lasting change likely to come: In the capital city, there will be more hardening, more barriers, less openness, less access.

For 25 years, Washington has grown ever more conspicuously guarded, first with the bollards and concrete jersey barriers that appeared after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, then the elaborate security protocols that swept federal properties after Sept. 11, 2001. Then there were heightened fears of what could harm the nation’s first Black president, followed by new worries that everyday public spaces — plazas, parks, farmer’s markets — could be targets as much as the monuments were.

“One of the reasons that my husband and I have always loved the city is you can literally walk from the neighborhoods of D.C. — when there were actually Black people living downtown — and access those grounds, the Smithsonian,” said Willow Lung-Amam, a professor of urban studies and planning at the University of Maryland.

When the city had less tourism and its population was still majority-Black, she said, it was like their private secret that African-American residents had intimate access to all of the monumentality of downtown. As federal properties have grown more heavily policed, she recalled a time, about 15 years ago, when her husband tried to take a group of videography students to film scenes on the Capitol grounds. F.B.I. agents later came to their home to question him about it.

Nick FinioJan 13No Comments

NCSG Hiring Project Coordinator: Fostering Communities of Practice to Prevent Small Business Displacement

College Park, Maryland 20742

301.405. 6788 TEL 301.314.5639 FAX

http://www.smartgrowth.umd.edu

National Center for smart growth research and education

Project Coordinator

Fostering Communities of Practice to Prevent Small Business Displacement

The University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) is seeking a highly motivated Project Coordinator to support a new initiative focused on preventing small business displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods across the U.S. The purpose of the project is to build a national community of practice that promotes innovation, develops social capital, skills and capacities, and facilitates knowledge sharing among small business leaders, including small business owners, community-based organizations, technical assistance providers, advocacy organizations, and policy makers. This multi-year, multi-phased collective impact initiative has three key goals:

Build national knowledge communities around important areas of policy and practice;
Identify, evaluate, and share promising practices and policies; and
Facilitate community- and capacity-building among small business leaders to encourage adoption of impactful strategies.

This Project Coordinator will support the Project Director, Dr. Willow Lung-Amam, and the core team of researchers and practitioners. The Project Coordinator will also coordinate and facilitate the activities of support staff, consultants, and community of practice members. The Project Coordinator will report to the Project Director and receive strategic direction from the project team, including the NCSG Director. Further information about the initiative can be found below.

The intended term of the project is 2.5 years based on agreed upon benchmarks of accomplishment, with an option for renewal dependent upon funding and other factors. This is a full-time, salaried University of Maryland, exempt, Contingent II staff position. Benefits include healthcare, retirement, and university tuition remission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management
- Monitoring and managing implementation of all project-related tasks.
- Maintaining key project infrastructure, including the project website and databases.
Personnel Management
- Managing key project personnel, including website and media consultants, facilitators, evaluation consultants, and graduate students.
- Supporting project team and consultants in organizing and facilitating information sharing among community of practice members in online and in-person meetings.
- Outreach to and coordination with project advisory board, sponsors, consultants, and community of practice members.
Event Coordination
- Coordinating regular meetings among core project teams and other project partners.
- Working with conference planners to assemble national and regional convenings, including assistance with travel arrangements and accommodations.
Research and Evaluation Support
- Assisting core project team and other community of practice members in publishing project reports and articles.
- Assisting project team in evaluating the impact of the initiative, including facilitating interviews and surveys.
Project communication and funding
- Managing project communication and media promotion, including social media channels.
- Assisting in grant applications for ongoing project funding.

Preferred Job Qualifications

Experience leading cross-sector, multi-year projects in large organizational settings, particularly those with a national and/or international scope.
Superb project management skills and expertise, including experience working with and coordinating large teams of up to 50 collaborators.
Experience developing and managing large databases, including integrated website databases.
Experience coordinating large in-person and virtual events.
Proficiency with a wide variety of software and systems for project and database management, and/or event management systems.
Fundraising or grant writing experience.
Experience managing large communication and media campaigns, including familiarity with traditional and social media platforms.
Experience related to invoicing, financial management, and accounting.
Educational degrees related to public administration or organizational management.
Substantive knowledge related to small businesses, minority- and immigrant communities, public policy, urban planning, economic development and/or redevelopment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Commitment to racial and economic equity and justice.
Non-English language speaking and writing abilities, especially Spanish.

People that identify with historically marginalized groups based on gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality are especially encouraged to apply.

About the Project

The project aims to build a national network of small business leaders working to support diverse, thriving small business in gentrifying neighborhoods. Small businesses are a vital part of economically healthy, socially vibrant, and environmentally sustainable communities. They are also highly vulnerable to displacement and financial stress when neighborhoods gentrify. This is particularly true for minority- and immigrant-owned businesses. COVID-19 and the resulting economic collapse have further exposed and heightened these vulnerabilities.

The project will provide small business leaders with the tools and capacity to combat the conditions that make disadvantaged businesses in gentrifying neighborhoods vulnerable to displacement. The community of small business owners, nonprofit organizations, technical assistance providers, policy makers, scholars, and government agencies will work together to identify, evaluate, and share promising place-based interventions and advocate for effective anti-displacement strategies in cities and metropolitan regions around the U.S.

By working across sectors and metropolitan regions, a community of practitioners will help small businesses remain resilient in the face of change and benefit from new neighborhood investments. In doing so, the project will also ensure that disadvantaged business owners, workers, and residents build greater financial health, wealth, and long-term stability.

Apply

Interested candidates should upload a letter of interest (3 page maximum) and resume to https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/80533. The position is open immediately and will remain open until filled. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Salary Range: $60,160 – $75,150 + benefits (as described above)

Nick FinioJan 13No Comments

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