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  • 1.  Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organizations and Natural Environment

    Posted 02-18-2015 13:28

    The Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and the Environment (VIEE) and the Vanderbilt Climate Change Research Network (CCRN) are pleased to invite applications from qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship position in organizations and natural environment. The position is for one year, with the possibility of an additional one year extension contingent on performance and funding. The appointment is to start in summer of 2015.  Additional details about the position are offered below, and information about VIEE and CCRN can be found here:

    VIEE: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/viee/ 

    CCRN: http://law.vanderbilt.edu/academics/academic-programs/environmental-law/climate-change-network/ 

    Applications are sought from candidates with primary experience in one or more relevant fields in the area of organizations and the natural environment, including organization studies, psychology, sociology, economics, and decision sciences. We are particularly interested in applicants whose research interests and expertise include topics such as employee motivation, perceptions of climate change, resource consumption, engagement in environmental behavior and environmental policy support. For the successful candidate, the thrust of the work during this fellowship will utilize quantitative research methods to examine influences on energy use, environmentally significant behavior and policy support by employees in private organizations – both in the workplace and at home.  

    The postdoctoral fellow will function as an integral member of an active, interdisciplinary research group. The fellow will interact with faculty, graduate and professional students, undergraduates, and other postdoctoral fellows representing a wide range of disciplines, including energy and environmental law, political science, economics, psychology, human and organizational development, management, earth and environmental sciences, and engineering. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to existing projects, work closely with other members of the research group and in interdisciplinary teams, help develop project proposals and publish research results in peer-reviewed journals.

    Applicants must have a Ph.D. in an appropriate field by the time the appointment begins. In addition, they should have a keen interest and demonstrated expertise in their particular area, strong interpersonal skills, writing ability, and capability to perform in-depth analysis. Candidates must be self-starters who are comfortable taking initiative and who can play a major role in working on multiple projects and bringing them to completion.

    Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2015 and will continue until the position is filled, contingent on funding approval. Applications should include: (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) three letters of reference from supervisors or professors signed and on letterhead with email addresses and phone numbers included, and (3) an essay (3-5 pages) describing reasons for applying, goals to be accomplished during the fellowship, and a description of how completion of the fellowship will help accomplish career goals. Applications should be submitted electronically as an email attachment to VIEE@vanderbilt.edu. 

    Justin Potter Professor of American Competitive Enterprise & Professor of Law
    Owen Graduate School of Management
    Vanderbilt University
    (615) 322-0533
     
    University Fellow
     
    You can access my papers on SSRN at: http://ssrn.com/author=44153.
     


  • 2.  CFP on Agrifood Security and Tech change.

    Posted 02-18-2015 17:55

    Extended Deadline.... now March 15th..... 

    Please consider submitting to our special issue: 

    Call for papers: Agrifood Security and Technological Change, Technological Forecasting and Social Change


    Increasing population concerns, global climate change and changing patterns of consumption in the BRICS and other countries requires significant complex and sustainable change in the way we produce, process, and market food and beverage products. Recent changes in consumer tastes have resulted in a significant increase in meat consumption, high protein diets and processed foods, together with increased demand for convenience foods and increasing awareness of food safety issues. Much research suggests that consumers intend to purchase healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainably produced foods yet confusion over labeling and lack of consumer knowledge can hinder this.

    Both retailers and consumers impact the food supply chain with the demand for reduced prices, longer shelf life, changes in packaging and all-year round demand. Concurrent to the changes in the retail/ consumer space, advances in food production (including GM), food storage and distribution as well as increasing knowledge of environmental impacts are also impacting food supply and consumption. A "counter revolution" of slow foods, gourmet food and wine festivals has emerged, showcasing the best local and international products and providing an alternative to mass produced or processed foods.

    The original Gaia theory of world self-regulation has come a long way since it was first proposed in the 1970s.  Increasing knowledge on climate change has surpassed the initial idea put forward. Can the idea that the world is a self-regulating system help inform our behavior with regard to food security issues? Are technological advances in food production, including biotechnology and GM foods or in the supply chain in terms of storage, refrigeration or transport as well as changes in consumer needs compatible with, or contributing to a self-regulating system?

    This special edition focuses on the technological changes in agri-food security and calls for papers addressing the following:  

    • What technological advances can help production and distribution as well as storage of agri-food products?
    • Is GM production consistent with increased food demands and how can this fit into a self-regulating system?
    • What technologies might be used to encourage informed consumerism or social change to address this issue?
    • Does Gaia theory have any application in helping to frame agri-food production, supply or consumption? Are there more appropriate theories to help model sustainable agrifood consumption?
    • What processes or models can be used to map the changes in technology in this field?

    Papers should be submitted via the journal's online submission system: http://ees.elsevier.com/tfs indicating submission to the special issue "Agri Food Security Tech." Please also refer to TFSC's "Guide for Authors" for style and format guidelines. If you have any questions about this call for papers, please contact Niki Hynes atniki.hynes@curtin.edu.au or Juliette Wilson at Juliette.wilson@strath.ac.uk

    We welcome expressions of interest prior to the deadline.

    Important Dates
    Submission of manuscripts (via EES): 15th March 2015

    Special Issue: Niki Hynes, Associate Professor of Marketing at Curtin Graduate School of Business. 
    Juliette Wilson, Lecturer in Marketing and Associate Dean, University of Strathclyde.