Postbaccalaureate Fellows in Community-Based Earth and Environmental Science Research

Position Overview

Salary range: $55,000 - $58,600

Application Window – Open date:
February 25, 2026;
Next review date:
Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time);
Final date:
Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) Community Geoscience Initiative (CGI), based in the Dept. of Earth System Science (ESS), is recruiting recent college graduates for paid one‑year postbaccalaureate (postbac) fellowships for our third cohort of CGI Fellows. Fellows will be hired as full‑time employees (Junior Specialists) in the ESS department with an annual salary of $55,000 for a one‑year appointment that includes generous benefits.

The Fellowship period will run from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.

This opportunity is open to all recent BA or BS recipients (must have received a degree after January 1, 2024) in geoscience or related disciplines from any institution. Fellows must be authorized to work in the U.S. As UCI employees, CGI Postbac Fellows will receive performance reviews based on their fulfillment of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Learn new technical skills and gain hands‑on research experience with UCI faculty who are working on cutting‑edge earth and environmental science research.
• Work closely with local community‑based organizations to conduct team‑based research projects that address environmental issues of interest to the community.
• Participate in seminars, workshops, and classes on social science, geoscience, and community‑based research methods.
• Receive guidance from a diverse network of mentors.
• Participate in professional development activities designed to help achieve 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 affected by climate and environmental change.

The Community Geoscience Initiative strives to foster a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative working environment that welcomes people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. ... We also encourage applications from those who have had limited opportunities to participate in research or professional development activities during their undergraduate studies.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application):
Expected or recent B.S. or B.A. degree (conferred between January 1, 2024, and August 31, 2026) in geoscience or related disciplines.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume including personal information, education, research experience, skills, honors, work experience, service, education, or volunteer work.
• Cover Letter – one page explaining relevant background, interest in this opportunity, and immediate and long‑term career goals.
• Unofficial transcripts from any undergraduate institution attended.
• Essay Questions – submit as a single document (recommended length: 100‑200 words each). The prompts are:
  1) Describe the areas of research that interest you most, your personal goals for the fellowship, and indicate your preference for working in office, lab, and/or field settings.
  2) Write about your career goals and how participating in this postbac program will help you meet these goals.
  3) Please describe what community‑based research means to you and what principles one should adhere to while conducting it. Use a specific example, if possible.
  4) What unique perspectives, skills, or abilities would you bring to CGI? These could be related to your experience in school, your past work or volunteer experiences, or your lived experience.
  5) CGI is dedicated to building an inclusive geoscience learning community, building equitable community‑university partnerships, and…