Overview

The Scholars for Climate and Advanced Leadership in Environment and Sustainability (SCALES) Postdoctoral Fellows Program, is a mentorship-centered initiative designed to accelerate interdisciplinary research and leadership in climate, environment, and sustainability.   

Through a cohort-based model, the SCALES Postdoctoral Fellows program brings together early-career scholars to collaborate with faculty across schools and departments at Duke University (including the Schools of Medicine and Nursing) on pressing climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Fellows will join with faculty mentors to co-create high-impact research projects and engage in climate-focused educational efforts, whether through course development and teaching or participation in university-wide initiatives such as Climate+, Bass Connections, and DukeEngage. 

Selected faculty teams will be invited to propose research projects that will host and mentor SCALES Postdoctoral Fellows. These projects must address a significant research question in climate, environment, or sustainability and foster an interdisciplinary collaboration that leverages diverse academic traditions and creates space for the SCALES Postdoctoral Fellow to shape the research direction in substantive ways.  

The SCALES Postdoctoral Fellowship provides the following funding: 

  1. Salary and fringe benefits for each postdoc for three years; 
  1. Dedicated funding of up to $100,000 per year to support the design and implementation of a faculty-mentored research project for up to three years; 
  1. A professional development budget for each postdoc of $10,000 per year;  
  1. Relocation expenses of up to $2,000 in the first year. 

Key Program Features  

  • Cohort Model: Fellows will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community of scholars, fostering collaboration across departments and schools. Cohorts will be supported through programming organized by the Office of Climate and Sustainability in consultation with Fellows and their faculty mentors. In support of this, Fellows are expected to reside in or near Durham or Beaufort, NC.  
  • Mentorship and Professional Development: The program emphasizes mentorship as a cornerstone of the Fellow experience. Fellows will also have access to professional development resources and opportunities to present their work, publish research, and engage with partners across academia, industry, and public sectors.  
  • Faculty-Mentored Research Projects: Each Fellow will collaborate with their faculty mentors to develop and lead a research project suggested in the proposal and refined alongside the Fellow following their arrival. These projects should address a significant climate, environment, or sustainability challenge and demonstrate a clear interdisciplinary approach.   
  • Teaching & Engagement: Fellows will collaborate with their host departments and mentors to contribute to climate fluency and sustainability education on campus. Fellows are encouraged to explore innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to education that align with their expertise, interests, and professional development needs.  

Role of Faculty Mentors, Host Departments & OCS  

The success of the SCALES Postdoctoral Fellowship program will require intentional coordination between faculty mentors, host departments, and OCS. Proposals should reflect an understanding of the roles and responsibilities outlined below and demonstrate a readiness to collaborate.  
 
Faculty Mentors  
Faculty mentors play a critical role in the professional and academic development of each Fellow. Their responsibilities include:  

  • Recruitment and Selection: Participate in the recruitment and selection of the Fellow, including reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and making final hiring decisions in coordination with the host department and OCS.  
  • Mentorship of the Fellow: Provide consistent, structured mentorship that supports the Fellow’s research, career goals, and professional growth. This includes regular meetings, guidance on scholarly activities, and support for networking and career planning.  
  • Cohort Engagement: Participate in cohort-wide activities such as seminars, workshops, and networking events. Faculty mentors are expected to contribute to the intellectual and professional development of the full cohort, not just their individual Fellow.  
  • Integration Support: Facilitate the Fellow’s integration into the host department and research community. This includes introducing the Fellow to relevant colleagues, encouraging participation in departmental events, and supporting access to resources.  
  • Research Project: Serve as a faculty mentor for the proposed research project, offering guidance and intellectual support to the Fellow. In partnership with their faculty mentors, Fellows will provide regular reporting on the expenditure of research funds.  
  • Fellows Performance Management: Conduct an annual performance evaluation for the SCALES Fellow. These evaluations should assess research progress, professional development, and alignment with program goals.  
  • Program Feedback and Evaluation: Faculty mentors may be asked to complete brief feedback forms or participate in periodic review meeting with program administrators.  

Host Department  
The host unit plays a vital role in supporting the Fellow’s daily experience and ensuring smooth integration into the academic and research environment. Responsibilities include:  

  • HR and Hiring Administration: In coordination with OCS, the host department serves as the primary point of contact for HR-related matters concerning the Fellow. This includes job posting (on AcademicJobsOnline or other relevant venues), recruitment, appointment processing, salary oversight, onboarding, benefits navigation, and compliance with institutional employment policies.  
  • Administrative Support and Financial Management: The host department will provide administrative and financial support to the Fellow and the faculty-mentored research project, ensuring compliance with institutional and departmental policies. Host departments will be responsible for financial management (tracking and reconciling) of all fellowship expenses, including salary, professional development funds, and the research project funds.  
  • Workspace and Infrastructure: Ensure the Fellow has access to appropriate workspace, including office or lab space, equipment, and institutional resources. Host units should also facilitate access to departmental events and community-building opportunities.  
  • Collaboration with OCS and Faculty: Maintain open communication with OCS and faculty mentors to support the Fellow’s experience.  

Office of Climate and Sustainability  
OCS serves as the central coordinating body for the SCALES Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, ensuring consistency and operational efficiency across all participating units. Its responsibilities span program design, administrative support, and strategic oversight. Specific responsibilities include:  

  • Program Coordination: Provide administrative support through dedicated staff who will manage program policies, logistics, communications, and documentation. This includes organizing orientation, cohort events, and professional development opportunities.  
  • Standardized Job Description: OCS will provide a job description template that reflects the goals and structure of the fellowship program and collaborate with host units to incorporate position-specific details while maintaining consistency across postings.  
  • Compensation Oversight: Establish salary levels for SCALES Fellows. OCS will provide a salary range for all fellows and the final offer is decided by the host department. The host department is required to send the signed offer letter to OCS so that OCS can facilitate the appropriate lump-sum financial transfer to the host department. 
  • Fund Code Creation: OCS will work with the host department's finance team to create a fund code within the host department's BFR. OCS will the facilitate the transfer of funds annually to support the required payroll, research, and professional development funds to the newly created fund code. 
  • Equipment and Relocation Costs: OCS will provide up to $2,000 in relocation expenses allowable under university policy. Note: A computer and discipline-specific software should be funded through the faculty-mentored research project or host unit resources.  
  • Program Evaluation: Collect feedback from Fellows, faculty mentors, and host units to assess program effectiveness and progress on research projects. OCS will use this data to inform future iterations of the program and support continuous improvement.  

Learn More  

Visit the Duke Climate Commitment website (https://climate.duke.edu/) to learn more about its activities and focus areas (https://climate.duke.edu/focus-areas/).  

Support

Duke University received $10.45 million in the form of a new award and donor pledges to launch a one-of-a-kind, climate-focused program for postdoctoral fellows. Read the Made for This announcement.