Research Social Scientist – Remote

Company: Colorado State University – Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
Title: Research Social Scientist – Remote
Location: Remote
Full job description: https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/145834 
Apply by date for full consideration: 7/1/2024
Salary Range: $85,000-$100,000

Position Summary:
As an academic department at Colorado State University, we conduct research in the area of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (HDNR) and prepare students for careers in conservation leadership and tourism. This area of study focuses on understanding and attending to the needs and values of humans, human society, and culture as they relate to the natural environment. HDNR is one of the few programs in the United States that offers a comprehensive bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program. It also has a fast-growing entrepreneurial program that offers degrees and certificates in tourism through online offerings.

The research social scientist in the Animal Human Policy Center (AHPC) plays a key role in a social science research study on the federal Animal Care (AC) program, which implements that Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act throughout the United States. The research social scientist will help lead data collection and analysis, including conducting interviews/focus groups and analyzing and writing up the results of interviews/focus groups. The social science research scientist will need to have specialized experience in conducting interviews with diverse stakeholders on animal-related issues and conducting qualitative analysis, particularly inductive thematic coding.

The research scientist position will be housed within the AHPC, in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University. This position will work closely with a team, including the director of the Animal Human Policy Center, principal investigator, co-principal investigator, a research scientist with expertise in veterinary medicine, and a research coordinator, to implement this research over a year timeframe. The research scientist will be working remotely but will be expected to attend two 2-day in-person workshops in Fort Collins with the research team as well as a 2-day stakeholder engagement workshop to present results at the end of the research project.

Required Qualifications:    

• The successful candidate must have earned a Ph.D. degree in Social Science, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Social Work, or a related discipline before the start date.
• The applicant must have a background and interest in research on stakeholder perspectives on animal protection/welfare.
• The applicant must have a demonstrated capability to implemented social science research using interviews/focus groups and leading qualitative analyses of data from interviews/focus groups.
• The applicant must have a demonstrated publication record in qualitative social science research.
• The applicant must have demonstrated experience using NVivo to conduct qualitative analysis and knowledge of diverse approaches for analyzing qualitative data.
• The applicant must be available to start no later than August 1st, 2024.

Employee Benefits: 
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/  & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/. 

Colorado State University conducts background checks on all final candidates.

CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer.