The UA's Steward Observatory and Dept of Astronomy invites applications for the position of Research Specialist (Researcher/Scientist IV) to join Cosmic Explorer's (CE) Office of Land & Community Partnerships. CE is a next-generation astro/physics facility in the US and is currently searching for promising observatory locations. These efforts will aid in building a novel approach to large-scale facility designs demonstrating how it can be conducted in community-led partnership with local and Indigenous communities. This position will be the primary support for the socio-cultural and historical research about specific Indigenous cultures (including protocols for building relationships), histories of the land, general issues of concern to Indigenous communities, and conducting research in consultation with Indigenous communities with current and ancestral ties to locations of interest for the CE project.

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

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• Serves as a senior collaborator on a multifaceted, highly complex research initiative leading substantive aspects of the overall project. Ensures regulatory and protocol compliance of the research program by coordinating with granting agencies, federal and state regulators, and tribal protocols as required by the research program. Responsible for operation of a specialized research area with considerable latitude in unreviewed actions or decisions. Evaluates current and future technologies and approaches and develops new techniques. Oversees day to day operation of the study and may supervise other research and support personnel. Coauthors or authors publications and may co-present results with principal investigators at meetings or conferences. Actively participates in acquiring research funding including initiating and writing grant proposals.
• Be the primary researcher for CE Indigenous Partnership Program (IPP), a highly specialized initiative for Steward Observatory and the UofA:
  • a) Provide leadership in program implementation - IPP is a novel program with many opportunities for creative collaborations with the PI;
  • b) Research socio-cultural landscape for locations across the continental US. The focus will be on Indigenous communities, their values, histories, cultures, and interests, but must also include other communities local to a given location of interest;
  • c) Report findings to CE teams in written and spoken formats;
  • d) Compile findings to be used in cultural competency training materials for CE personnel.
• Participate in regular IPP team activities including:
  • a) Weekly meetings for IPP;
  • b) Meetings with external collaborators (IPP will consult with tribes across the US and with faculty in the UArizona colleges and departments);
  • c) Monthly meetings with larger site evaluation and identification teams;
  • d) Provide recommendations and collaborate on weekly action items for CE cultural development.
• Travel and consultation:
  • a) Travel to various locations across the US in order to build community relationships. These trips will have the support of an additional IPP team member to conduct several (3-11) one week long trips per year;
  • b) Participate in consultation with tribal representatives.
• Writing:
  • a) Assist in grants writing to support this work. This can sometimes be on a short timeline;
  • b) Write white papers to motivate this work to the larger physics community;
  • c) Assist in writing educational materials based on research conducted for IPP, the CE community, and the broader community with an interest in CE.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Team experience and team oriented mindset.
• Excellent interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to learn new tools, techniques, applications, systems, and processes as needed.

Additional duties may be assigned.

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in a related discipline required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• An extensive experience working with tribes/ tribal leadership and a deep understanding of Indigenous worldviews would be considered.