Postbaccalaureate Fellows in Climate Change & Community-Based Research

The University of California, Irvine is seeking six recent graduates for paid one-year postbaccalaureate fellowships in Climate Change & Community-Based Research. The role involves hands-on research, collaboration with community organizations, and professional development. Fellows will be full-time Junior Specialists with an annual salary of $53,100, starting September 1, 2025. The position is open to recent BA or BS graduates in relevant fields authorized to work in the US.
Call for Applicants: Postbaccalaureate Fellows in Climate Change & Community-Based Research

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) Climate Justice Initiative (CJI) based in the Dept. of Earth System Science (ESS), in partnership with the UCI Research Justice Shop, will be recruiting six recent college graduates for paid one-year postbaccalaureate (postbac) fellowships for our third cohort of CJI Fellows. Fellows will be hired as full-time Junior Specialists in the ESS department with an annual salary of $53,100 (see full salary scale here) for a one-year appointment that includes generous benefits. The Fellowship period will run from September 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026. This opportunity is open to recent BA or BS recipients (class of 24 or 25) in geoscience or related disciplines (e.g. earth system science, environmental science and policy, geology, geography, ecology, chemistry, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, etc.) from any institution who are authorized to work in the US.

CJI Postbac Fellows will:
• Learn new technical skills and gain hands-on research experience with UCI faculty who are working on cutting-edge climate and environmental research.
• Work closely with local community-based organizations to conduct team-based research projects that address climate change and environmental issues of interest to the community.
• Attend seminars, workshops, and classes on social science, climate/geo/environmental science, and community-based research methods.
• Receive guidance from a diverse network of mentors.
• Participate in professional development activities designed to help you achieve your career goals, whether that be entering the workforce or pursuing graduate studies.
• Join an inclusive learning community of students, researchers, faculty, and staff dedicated to conducting research that centers the needs of communities that are most impacted by climate and environmental change.

The CLIMATE Justice initiative strives to foster a welcoming and collaborative working environment that brings together diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We strongly encourage applications from all recent graduates who would benefit from cross-disciplinary climate/environmental science research training, mentorship, career and professional development, and community-engaged research experience.