Postdoc in agent-based human-earth system modelling

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Tim Waring

I’m happy to be joining Peter Søgaard Jørgensen on his Anthropocene Navigator research project, which is looking for an integrative, trans-disciplinary postdoc on modeling global-scale social, economic and political dynamics in the Anthropocene.

We are looking for a modeller with experience in agent-based or human earth system modelling and with interest in engaging in transdisciplinary sustainability science to work as one of two postdocs in the Anthropocene navigator project in a two-three year position here in Stockholm. The project involves a larger working group of international collaborators that will meet through synthesis workshops.

The Anthropocene navigator project aims to find robust coalition building strategies to advance global sustainability goals in times of polycrisis, including destabilisation of international cooperation. The project aims to achieve this goal by combining keystone actor mapping and engagement of diplomats with integrated human-Earth system modelling.

The postdoc will be in charge of modelling coalition building strategies between nation states and other key actors to achieve the 1.5 C goal, the 30 by 30 goal and the target of Zero pandemics. This is currently planned to be done by implementing selected Anthropocene traps (Søgaard Jørgensen et al. 2024) in the coupled modelling framework Copan:LPJML (Breier et al. 2025).

Key collaborators in the project for the modelling postdoc include Lan Wang Erlandson, Jonathan Donges, Tim Waring and Peter Søgaard Jørgensen. Please inquiries to peter.sogaard.jorgensen@su.se.

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Post-Doctoral Position on Cultural Adaptation in Forest Management

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Tim Waring
Managing forests is a complex challenge with multiple goals. How well can a people learn the best practices when opportunities to test and learn from others are rare? A new NSF research project will use the science of cultural evolution to estimate the likelihood of beneficial cultural adaptation in forest management practices.

We are looking for a post-doctoral researcher to develop the applied study of human cultural adaptation. Prior research on human cultural adaptation has been largely theoretical (see Fogarty and Kandler, 2020). This project will develop specific estimates of the process and strength of cultural adaptation in an applied context. We are seeking a PhD researcher with a strong quantitative background in biology, evolution, or social science, and previous experience in mathematical modeling and/or behavioral experimentation.

Study system: Forest management is a multidimensional challenge. Rural forest owners have many goals including managing invasive plants and reducing populations of disease-carrying ticks. In addition, rural populations are sparse, and opportunities to learn the best approaches directly, or from others, are seasonal and rare. These factors make cultural adaptation more difficult. The project will seek to estimate the strength of cultural adaptation in rural populations in the complex environment of forest management in the Northeastern United States, especially Maine and Vermont.

Approaches: The project will use model-based estimation, surveys and behavioral experiments to estimate the likelihood or strength of cultural adaptation in the study system, with relevance for policy intervention.

Purpose: Complete a multi-method study of human cultural adaptation to environmental challenges with application to invasive plants and tick-borne disease threats among woodland owners with supervision from Dr. Waring and in collaboration with Dr. Gardner, and Dr. Leahy, and the project team.

Position: The position is for 2 years, contingent on successful performance and funding. The target start date is September 1, 2025, or as soon as practicable. The salary range for this position is $45,000 to $48,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is part of a 5 year National Science Foundation project.

Apply here: Postdoctoral Research Associate

Application deadline: 4:30 p.m. EST on July 11, 2025.

Contact: Dr. Tim Waring (timothy.waring@maine.edu)

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Transmissions: a podcast on cultural evolution!

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Tim Waring

I’m excited to see this new student-created podcast called “Transmission” on cultural evolution. Feryl Badiani interviews cultural evolutionary researchers, and Ishaan Sinha on graphics design and technical.

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How do people learn and share management strategies for invasive species and ticks?

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Tim Waring

Our 5 year social-ecological research project just got a local TV spot on News Center Maine. The spot highlights the ecological side of the research. On the social side, will explore how people learn management strategies for ecological threats like tick borne diseases and invasive species in a complex ecosystem setting, and whether they share what they learn.

We are also hiring a PhD research assistant position for this project. We are seeking a fully-funded 4-year doctoral research assistant position. Application materials can be submitted here.

Applications are being reviewed now!

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PhD Position: Cultural Adaptation to Environmental and Health Threats

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Tim Waring


The Applied Cultural Evolution (ACE) Laboratory at the University of Maine is seeking applicants for a fully-funded 4-year doctoral research assistantship on the adaptive cultural evolution of human behavior in a context of environmental and health threats.

PhD research assistantship description.

Application materials can be submitted here.

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