Berkeley Food Institute Undergraduate Agricultural Labor Research Fellow
In Partnership with Latinx and the Environment and the UC Global Food Initiative
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
The Berkeley Food Institute (BFI) invites applications for a student fellowship opportunity, partially funded by the University of California Global Food Initiative (UCGFI) and Latinx and the Environment Initiative. This fellowship will allow an outstanding student to serve as the Berkeley Food Institute Undergraduate Agricultural Labor Research Fellow.
Compensation: Up to 360 hours of work at $20.30/hour (8-10 hours per week for the academic year)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, July 25, 2022, at 5PM Pacific Time
Applicant must be a matriculated undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. To apply, submit the following items as a single pdf to foodinstitute@berkeley.edu with the subject line “Undergraduate Agricultural Labor Research Fellow.”
- Cover letter stating your reasons for application to this fellowship and a summary of most relevant experiences, skills, and/or education.
- Resume (limit 2 pages).
- Contact information for 2 references. One should be a professor or major advisor.
ABOUT THE BERKELEY FOOD INSTITUTE: The Berkeley Food Institute strives to transform food systems to expand access to healthy, affordable food and promote sustainable and equitable food production. We empower new leaders with the capacity to cultivate diverse, just, resilient, and healthy food systems.
ABOUT LATINX AND THE ENVIRONMENT: The Latinxs and the Environment Initiative is an effort started in UC Berkeley that seeks to establish a comprehensive program designed to generate knowledge and encourage increased study and research on Latinxs and the environment—both in the U.S. and abroad with the coordinated participation of policy makers, community-based organizations (CBOs) and the academic community.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP:
Background on the UC Global Food Initiative Student Fellowship Program: The overarching goal of the University of California Global Food Initiative is “to harness the resources of the University of California—its research, people, expertise, and tradition of public service—to put the world on a pathway to feed itself in ways that are nutritious and sustainable.” To engage students in this effort, the UC Office of the President has funded the UCGFI Student Fellowship Program since 2014.
BFI-Latinx & the Environment Research Fellow: The student will work closely with a multidisciplinary group of researchers on a project funded by the UC Mexus Program and The Planetary Health Centers of Expertise and in coordination with the Latinx and the Environment Initiative and the Berkeley Food Institute. The project analyzes two topics: the socio economic and health impacts of heat waves and COVID-19 on agricultural outdoor labor. This Current research area is the Central Valley in California. Possible expansion to Michoacán, Mexico is being considered.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Translation: Collaborate in the updating and translation of a survey (English to Spanish). The survey is currently in English and Spanish, and needs to be updated and translated to its final form.
Data collection (preliminary work): Update the Qualtrics version of the survey and contribute to the development of a survey protocol in tablets (Windows).
Fieldwork: Student will participate, when needed and allowed by campus and health authorities, in data collection activities. This could include completing interviews, uploading data, and or providing logistical support to enumerators and project leads
Meeting coordination: Student is required to participate in a research planning meeting twice or possible three times a month. During the meetings, the student will:
- Report on the assigned tasks.
- Contribute to project development by collaborating with researchers in preparing information dissemination documents, research papers (student will be given full credit in authorship).
Communications assistance: Support research team in public dissemination of research results, particularly online and via social media.
GFI Meetings and Reporting: Participation in GFI systemwide activities, including GFI conference calls, attendance at meetings of GFI leadership, and GFI Fellows’ field trip.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Matriculated undergraduate student at UC Berkeley.
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills, particularly in regards to interpersonal communications across diverse groups.
- Experience with facilitation, relationship-building, and project coordination among diverse people and programs.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a group setting.
- Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and commitment.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Interest and experience in public service and social equity, as core tenets of the UC Berkeley experience and the Berkeley Food Institute mission.
- Work experience or willingness to learn about agricultural and food systems in general.
- Fully bilingual (Spanish-English): ability to translate written information and to interpret oral communication with project participants, including target groups.
- Knowledge or willing to learn Qualtrics Software.
- Comfort with hard work.
- Professionalism, courtesy, punctuality, and good humor.
Systemwide activities for the UCGFI Fellowship program will begin with an orientation in late summer 2022 over Zoom. Systemwide activities and funded by the UC Global Food Initiative above and beyond the fellowship award, and will also include leadership retreats, a spring 2023 field trip, and a closing symposium and poster presentation to be held in conjunction with the CA Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) in June/July 2023. Please note that all UCGFI Student Fellows are expected to attend the systemwide events, if possible.
Direct any questions to foodinstitute@berkeley.edu or Latinx and the Environment Co-Director Federico Castillo at f.castillo@berkeley.edu, with the subject line “Undergraduate Agricultural Labor Research Fellow.”
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, see: http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf
For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see:
http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct
