Position Highlights

The Lovejoy Center for Bringing Biodiversity, Conservation Science, and Policy advances the legacy of Tom Lovejoy by generating actionable science, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and connecting knowledge to policy solutions that safeguard global biodiversity. With an emphasis on conservation solutions, the Lovejoy Center develops and supports innovative approaches that protect species, sustain ecosystems, and promote a thriving planet. 

We invite creative and collaborative applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Associate appointment in the Tom Lovejoy Conservation Fellowship program. Focusing on the global grand challenges of climate change in biodiversity and conservation science, human and one health, governance and policy, and food systems infrastructure, successful candidates will conduct cutting-edge research, contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives, and help translate scientific insights into solutions. 

Successful candidates will join the Lovejoy Bridging Biodiversity & Conservation Science (BBCS) research team established in 2016 to contribute robust and predictive research in emergent issues to prevent species extinction, preserve ecosystem and human health, and sustain food security across multiple scales. 

The position emphasizes applying quantitative analysis skills to cross-disciplinary frameworks that could include, but are not limited to, weather and climate extremes, biodiversity and conservation of biodiverse regions such as the Amazon rainforest and other regions, invasive species, landscape restoration, urban landscape and design, and more. 

The Tom Lovejoy Conservation Fellowship provides professional development support for academic career goals with faculty mentorship and support for government, industry, or other career pathways through collaborations with partners. Additional training, certifications, and career development resources are available throughout the University and from UA Postdoctoral Affairs.

For full consideration, please submit your application by the first review date of January 30, 2026. 

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work under the supervision of a primary Lovejoy BBCS Faculty Member, at least one faculty from another discipline, and/or a non-academic community partner.
• Collaborate with post-doctoral fellows and faculty on additional interdisciplinary projects and group synthesis papers.
• Develop proposals for external funding in line with the Lovejoy BBCS mission to bridge disciplines.
• Coordinate an annual research dissemination event.
• Present research findings and methodologies at relevant conferences with travel sponsored by the University.
• Opportunity to collaborate with community partners to advance or diversify skillsets.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to support emerging projects or needs that uphold the Lovejoy BBCS mission.
• Participation in department-wide trainings in building an anti-racist and more equitable society for the promotion of social, racial, and environmental justice.
• Additional duties may be assigned.

Knowledge, skills, & abilities:

• Effective communication.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Scientific data analysis skills with application of theory, frameworks, and computational science skills.
• Familiarity with data science software.
• Academic writing skills.
• Public presentation skills.
• Time management and organizational skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• This is a fellowship for early career researchers. Applicants must have completed their PhD from an accredited institution by the fellowship start date, and not have completed their PhD more than five years before the fellowship start date. 

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD or doctoral degree in conservation, economics, sociology, political science, geography, civil and environmental engineering, environmental science and policy, natural resources, public policy, environmental health, public health, or similar. 
• Experience in at least two of the following areas: GIS software; spatial analysis and visualization; programming in R, Python, or similar; epidemiology; etiology; data communication; systems evaluation; quantitative data collection and analysis; policy theory, scientific synthesis and writing.
• Strong experience in quantitative research methods such as data science and statistics.
• Applicants interested in at least two of the following disciplines: biodiversity and conservation science, ecology, data informatics, public health, policy and governance, food security, urban planning and design, environmental justice would be an ideal fit for the program.

Documents Needed to Apply

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Contact information for three references

Special Instructions to Applicant

Your cover letter should be no more than two pages (single spaced) and must: 

• Identify 1-2 Lovejoy BBCS faculty you would be interested in working with and explains the primary research directions you would want to pursue in collaboration with this faculty member. You are strongly encouraged to reach out to faculty before submitting your application.
• Describe your experience with or interest in inter- or transdisciplinary research.
• Explain how this experience will positively impact your career trajectory.

Note on AI: We will not use AI to review your application. Please be thoughtful about your own use of AI to create your application. Thank you! 

Additional DetailsRate of Pay: 

$62,232 - $70,344 (commiserate with experience)

Target Hire Date: 

June 1, 2026

Position Contact Information: 

Phoebe Meixner (pmeixner@arizona.edu)

Campus

Main Campus

Modality

Hybrid. The BBCS research team is primarily located in Tucson, Arizona and we hold infrequent in-person team building gatherings and professional development workshops. Twice-monthly all hands meetings are conducted in a hybrid format (both in person and on Zoom).