Postdoctoral Researcher – Health (Co) Benefits of Climate Action School of Health Sciences & Data Science Institute
Posted : 29 July 2024
Closes : 9 August 2024
Location : Galway

Postdoctoral Researcher – Health (Co) Benefits of Climate Action School of Health Sciences & Data Science Institute

Ref. No. 010561

 JOB ADVERTISEMENT

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, fixed term position as a Postdoctoral Researcher with the School of Health Sciences and Data Science Institute at the University of Galway, Ireland.

The University is committed to embracing opportunities for hybrid working, to build a more dynamic, agile and responsive University, while sustaining strong standards of teaching, learning, research and high levels of productivity. The University will continue to be the primary workplace for all staff, however individual hybrid arrangement requests can be reviewed with the Line Manager in conjunction with the University Hybrid Working Policy.

This position is funded by the SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics – Insight and is available from January 1st, 2025 to contract end date of December 31st, 2025.

Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics undertakes high impact research in data analytics that has significant benefits for the individual, industry, and society by enabling better decision making and transforming data into knowledge. Making effective decisions is dependent on having access to and confidence in the available evidence. The Health (Co)Benefits of Climate Action project aims to advance decision-making support for urgent climate action by synthesising the available evidence of health (co)benefits and trade-offs associated with relevant adaptation and mitigation interventions.

Salary: Postdoctoral Researcher salary scale €44,346 – €56,764 per annum, (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.

The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project’s funding limitations), where evidence of prior years’ equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale.  (Research Salary Scales – University of Galway)

Closing date for receipt of applications is 17:00 (Irish Time) on 9 August 2024. It will not be possible to consider applications received after the closing date.

 *Please review full job description for further details and essential requirement

 Job Description:

In accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 13, decisive climate action to limit global average temperature increase, enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change is imperative for population health and requires robust and up-to-date scientific evidence. There is a growing evidence-base to support how climate mitigation and adaptation interventions provide extensive and diverse health benefits. Such (co)benefits are positive effects that a climate policy or measure aimed at one objective, say the acceleration of renewable energy, might have on other objectives, say improving air quality, that in turn increases the total net benefit of that policy or measure, such as avoiding premature deaths, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and lost workdays. A climate policy or measure can also have negative effects, or trade-offs, that decrease the total net benefit for health, society, or the environment. The Health (Co)Benefits of Climate Action project aims to advance decision-making support for imperative climate action by synthesising the available evidence of health (co)benefits and trade-offs associated with relevant adaptation and mitigation interventions.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience and expertise in leading evidence syntheses and systematic confidence assessments. The applicant will have a keen interest in advancing decision- support for imperative climate action that has demonstrable benefits for health. The ideal applicant will be intellectually curious and interested in the interface between science and policy. They will exhibit a high level of self-driven motivation and initiative towards fostering high-quality research.

Duties:

  • Lead, under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, a specified research programme to develop climate-health indicators and metrics;
  • Conduct an evidence synthesis of health (co)benefits and trade-offs for national level climate intervention priorities in Ireland;
  • Undertake a confidence assessment for key synthesis outcomes;
  • Evaluate where the quantification of (co)benefits and trade-offs, including health equity measures, is methodologically feasible and supported in the global scientific literature;
  • Identify European health datasets and data infrastructure for developing shared indicators and measures assessing the progress of climate action and effectiveness of interventions;
  • Adapt and harness a decision-support tool as a way to engage cross-sectoral government actors in a health in all policies approach;
  • Collaborate with Irish and International partners to conduct research objectives and tailor research outputs;
  • Work both independently as well as collaboratively with colleagues, engaging in knowledge- transfer activities where appropriate and feasible;
  • Lead, under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, the writing and submission of academic outputs including peer-reviewed publications;
  • Maintain continuing professional development;
  • Contribute to global health education including curriculum and content-design as well as mentorship;
  • Any other duties assigned commensurate to this level of post

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • PhD in climate change and global health;
  • At least 5 years of experience leading systematic evidence syntheses, including protocol development, data extraction, analysis, and presentation of results;
  • At least 5 years of experience leading systematic confidence assessments of mixed-methods (i.e. quantitative and qualitative) evidence;
  • Experience developing and testing decision-support tools for climate adaptation and mitigation;
  • Experience engaging in climate assessment processes (i.e. as a reviewer, lead author, or contributing author to an IPCC assessment report, or national climate change risk assessment);
  • A proven ability to work well both individually and in a team, including a multi-disciplinary research environment;
  • Experience working with non-academic partners to deliver objectives (i.e. government departments, health services, meteorological services);
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including delivering complex information effectively to a diverse audience;
  • A proven track record of peer-reviewed publications in high impact factor academic journals;
  • Good time management and planning skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines, manage competing demands and work effectively under pressure without close support;
  • A strong commitment to continuous professional

Desirable Requirements:

  • Experience synthesising  evidence  from  diverse  sources  and  novel  data  streams  (i.e. quantitative, qualitative, Indigenous knowledge, Local knowledge, citizen science)
  • Mentorship of junior colleagues on evidence synthesis and confidence assessment;
  • Experience pursuing and obtaining external funding to support

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. University of Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia. Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment – see HERE for further information.

Further Information/Links

 To apply: Jobs – University of Galway. Applications must be submitted

o  How to apply guide