POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Postdoctoral Fellow in “Coastal Tourism, Environmental Economics, and Coastal Development”

DURATION: Full time. 18 months, w/possibilities for extension until 36 months (i.e. through competitive Postdoc ANID grants).

DESCRIPTION: A postdoctoral position as part of the Coastal Social-Ecological Millennium Institute (SECOS) is available. SECOS Institute is formed by a multidisciplinary team of scientists from several Chilean universities, focused on coastal sustainability. Main objectives of SECOS are to understand global, regional, and local drivers of change; the social-ecological conditions that hinder sustainability; and to test and implement actions that unravel such conditions. Our work plan has been organized through the study of small- and medium-scale social-ecological experimental units, or ‘learning platforms’, which tackle key issues in Artisanal fisheries, Shellfish aquaculture, and Coastal development as social-ecological systems (SES). In particular, we look for a postdoctoral fellow to join the Coastal Development SES.

Post-doctoral research could be directed towards one of the following areas:

• Natural capital and biodiversity assessment for coastal development, including valuation and mapping of biodiversity-related ecosystem services, nature-related risks and opportunities, and the analysis of firms’ impacts and dependencies on nature to inform decision-making (e.g., conservation-investment trade-offs, coastal planning, and nature-based solutions).
• Economic trade-offs between coastal tourism development, conservation, and alternative coastal uses, analyzed within a social–ecological systems framework.
• Economic impacts of climate change on coastal tourism and cost–benefit evaluation of adaptation options, including nature-based solutions.
• Tourist preferences, behavior, and willingness to pay for coastal and marine conservation, using stated- and revealed preference approaches.

Methodological note: Currently, we are working on choice modeling using Virtual Reality and eye-tracking technologies to analyze tourists’ preferences and decision-making, and on the analysis of companies’ impacts and dependencies on nature to support nature-related management and coastal development strategies.

Research is expected to combine quantitative economic methods (e.g. non-market valuation, applied econometrics, behavioral economics) with field-based work in small- and medium-scale coastal social–ecological systems.

The successful applicant will be based in one of the SECOS associated institutions in Chile, preferably in the city of Concepción (Universidad de Concepción and Universidad del Desarrollo).  Some fieldwork will be required.

BACKGROUND: PhD in Economics, Environmental Economics, Ecological Economics, or closely related disciplines, with training or experience in non-market valuation, applied microeconomics, socio-economic analysis of environmental issues, or policy evaluation. Experience with quantitative, experimental, or mixed methods applied to sustainability, tourism, or coastal systems will be positively valued. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with an interdisciplinary team and engage with local coastal communities through intensive fieldwork in coastal social–ecological systems.

TO APPLY: Applicants should submit, electronically or in hardcopy form:

• Curriculum Vitae in extenso: LAST NAME, name – CV.
• Copies of degree certificates: LAST NAME, name – certificate.
• Cover letter: LAST NAME, name – letter.
• A statement of previous research achievements: LAST NAME, name – statement.
• Copies of relevant articles (maximum 3): LAST NAME, name – articles.
• A research plan (maximum 3 pages): LAST NAME, name – plan.
• A list of 2 referees (with contact details): LAST NAME, name – referees

Applications should be sent to: postulaciones@socioecologiacostera.cl, E-mail subject: SECOS Postdoc CD Application– CANDIDATE LAST NAME.

Deadline: March 17th, 2026.

DATES: Preferred start date is at the middle or later in April, 2024.

SALARY: The Postdoctoral fellow will receive a monthly salary of around CLP$2.100.000.- (annual salary of about US$ 28,100)

Applications should be submitted to:

Pablo Fuentes
Executive Director
Coastal Social-Ecological Millennium Institute (SECOS)
Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago