Faculty proposals must demonstrate a commitment to mentoring, collaborative scholarship, and alignment with the goals of the Climate Commitment.  

Proposals should be no longer than 12 pages and include the following sections:  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Abstract of key elements of proposal, including a description of the proposed research project. (Cover page; not to exceed 250 words)  

MENTORING PLAN: Faculty are expected to support the professional development of the Fellow, including guidance on research, teaching, and career advancement. The mentoring plan should include an evaluation plan with metrics to assess progress and impact. For guidance, consult resources about Individual Development Plans offered by the Office of Postdoctoral Services. (2 pages max)  

TEACHING & ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT: A description of one or more ideas about how the Fellow might contribute to enhancing climate and sustainability fluency on campus. Proposed contributions might address existing curricular gaps, introduce interdisciplinary perspectives, or build on emerging areas of interest. These initial ideas will ideally align with department needs while remaining flexible to draw upon the expertise and interests of the Fellow hired into the position. This component will be developed by the Fellow in the first year and implemented in each subsequent year. We encourage collaborations among Fellows, as well as engagement with existing programs such as Climate+, Bass Connections, and DukeEngage. You can learn more about the Climate Commitment’s Climate & Sustainability Fluency Framework here. (2 pages max)  

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH PROJECT PLAN: This section should outline a flexible and compelling foundation for a collaborative research project that the SCALES Postdoctoral Fellow will help shape. A final research project plan will be co-developed and submitted for approval within several months of the Fellow’s arrival. (5 pages max)  
Sections should include:  

  • a description of the climate, environment, or sustainability-related challenge the project seeks to explore, including its broader significance,   
  • preliminary research objectives, which may evolve in collaboration with the Fellow. These should reflect the potential for innovative inquiry and impact, rather than a fixed research agenda,   
  • a brief history of related work by the faculty mentors, including any prior collaborations, funding, or foundational research that informs the proposed direction;   
  • a description of the role of the Fellow in the project, emphasizing opportunities for leadership, intellectual contribution, and co-development of the project’s scope, methods, and outputs,   
  • a description of the proposed interdisciplinary methodology, with particular attention to how each faculty mentor brings a distinct disciplinary lens—methodological, epistemological, or theoretical—that differs meaningfully from the others. The interdisciplinary nature of the project should be clearly articulated and central to the project’s design; and   
  • a preliminary work plan and draft timeline, which will serve as a starting point for the Fellow to refine.   

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH PROJECT BUDGET: Detail the major categories of anticipated expenditures. Include a brief budget narrative to provide a broad overview of these expenses. Fellows will collaborate on a final research project budget to be submitted for approval within several months of the Fellow’s appointment. For more information, see Guidance for Research Project Budgets below. (2 pages max)  

RECRUITMENT PLAN: Faculty should outline approaches for recruiting and attracting strong candidates for this opportunity. This may include outreach to specific professional networks, targeted communications within disciplinary communities, and engagement with graduate programs or postdoctoral associations. (1 page max)  

JOB DESCRIPTION: OCS will draft a standard job description for all SCALES Fellows that will provide space to include the following sections, provided by faculty mentors as part of this proposal: (1) a preliminary description of the research project, including information on the role of SCALES Fellow and (2) a description of the proposed teaching & engagement component. (Appendix; not to exceed 100 words each)  

LETTER OF SUPPORT:  A letter of support from the Department Chair (Trinity, SOM, Pratt), Division Chair (NSOE), or Dean (Divinity, Fuqua, Law, Sanford, SON) of the primary faculty mentor is required to affirm the unit’s commitment to supporting and engaging the SCALES Postdoctoral Fellow, as well as the unit’s operational and administrative readiness to host the Fellow. For more information, see Role of Faculty Mentors, Host Departments & OCS. If multiple proposals come forth from the same unit, the letter will need to indicate any internal priorities or preferences. The Chair/Dean should send letters directly to climate-sustainability@duke.edu.