Seeking Climate CoLab Fellows
Updated April 18, 2017
MIT’s Climate CoLab (www.climatecolab.org) is an online platform where thousands of people from around the world work with experts and each other to create, analyze, and select detailed proposals for what to do about climate change. In 2017, the Climate CoLab is running a suite of contests on topics such as energy supply, transportation, adaptation, shifting attitudes and behavior, as well as on specific regions around the world.
We are seeking Fellows to work closely with the Climate CoLab staff to coordinate the 2017 contests.
Fellows have expertise in fields related to climate change, or are eager to support this work, and are interested in fostering a diverse online community in developing new, creative solutions. They work weekly both individually and with small, virtual teams to coordinate and advance the activity within Climate CoLab.
This year, we will have two types of contest Fellows: Outreach and Evaluation.
Outreach Fellows love people and are excited to grow participation on the platform. They can expect to:
- Identify and engage organizations, individuals, and networks in joining the Climate CoLab community and submitting proposals;
- Lead direct outreach and recruitment efforts to solicit proposals to the online platform;
- Respond to and stimulate community interactions on the contest discussion boards and comment feeds;
- Be active online (social media, e.g.) and offline (networking events, e.g.) in sharing Climate CoLab activities;
- Work as a close, committed team, and be in ongoing communication with Climate CoLab staff.
Evaluation Fellows are eager to find -- and help advance -- creative solutions to climate change challenges. They can expect to:
- Liaise with senior experts who serve as contest Advisors;
- Update contest background materials to reflect current challenges in the sector;
- Provide substantive feedback to authors and submit ratings on proposals;
- Screen and assign proposals to expert Judges, and coordinate Judges in their evaluations of proposals;
- Host and moderate calls among the judging panel to support the evaluation processes;
- Work as a close, committed team, and be in ongoing communication with Climate CoLab staff.
Commitment
As leaders within the project, this role requires a strong and ongoing commitment for the duration of the contest.
The time commitment for both Outreach and Evaluation Fellows is a minimum of two - three hours per week on average over the course of the contest.
Evaluation Fellows must additionally be available to commit up to 4 - 5 hours per week as contests are prepared (May), and 6 - 10 hours per week during their contest’s judging periods:
- Semi-Finalist evaluations: September 10 - 17 and October 2 - 18.
- Finalist evaluations: November 5 - 12, and November 28 - December 15.
Qualifications
- Inspired by Climate CoLab’s mission;
- Accomplished graduate student, doctorate candidate or professional with deep knowledge in one or more of the Climate CoLab's key subject areas (see past contests);
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills;
- Fluency or near fluency in English (writing);
- Committed to being available for the time commitment noted above.
Fellowships are unpaid and all activities are completed online or over the phone. No traveling is required. Letters of recommendation can be given upon successful completion of the Fellows program (upon request).
To apply, please complete the form below by April 30, 2017, 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with preference given to early applicants. (Click here to open the form in a new window.)
We are also accepting early expressions of interest for Impact Assessment Fellows, to conduct quantitative assessments of effects on greenhouse gas reductions, or extent of climate adaptation proposed. To learn more about the role, and express interest, please click here.
