Senior Research Officer

Requisition ID:  591

Department:  Faculty of Science

City:  Cape Town

SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER: CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH

Fixed Term Contract 3 years (SRO/SLEC)

African Climate and Development Initiative

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

The Climate Risk Lab in the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) invites applications for the position of Senior Researcher in Climate Change and Health for appointment as soon as possible. ACDI is based at the University of Cape Town and supports research and training on climate change and sustainable development.

If you have initiative and strong research leadership skills, and you meet the criteria as listed below, we invite you to apply for this fixed term 3-year Academic Research position (with potential for extension for a further 2 years depending on performance and funding availability).

The Senior Researcher, in coordination with the Climate Risk Lab Director, will lead a core research theme attributing human health impacts to climate change, predicting short-term and long-term climate change impacts on health, and informing adaptation responses. This role will include development and oversight of research, conducting individual research, advising postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students, and actionable research activities such as supporting climate change policy and decision making at local, national, and international levels. This is an ideal opportunity for a researcher with an environmental health or public health background to work at the intersection of climate and health.

The Senior Researcher will also be responsible for fundraising around the climate and health research theme, as well as the administration of funding and research activities, including research monitoring and evaluation, finance, and HR for research activities related to the research theme.

Requirements:

• PhD degree in a relevant discipline
• At least 3 years’ work experience post PhD, with a research track record in climate change and/or health.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Excellent publication track record, with evidence of recent productivity and high impact publications, commensurate with career stage.
• Capability to lead or co-lead interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary team research projects.
• Track record of securing independent funding for research, commensurate with career stage.
• Track record of postgraduate co-supervision at Masters and/or PhD level.
• Excellent data science skills, including advanced analysis, data visualization, and data management. 
• Experience with science communication at workshops and/or conferences and with the public and/or decision-makers.

The following will be advantageous:

• Track record of research on climate-sensitive health impacts and on climate change adaptation.
• Knowledge of open science research principles and practices.
• Excellent science communication, such as contributing to media articles, public speaking, media interviews.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a core research theme in the Climate Risk Lab focused on attributing health impacts to climate change, predicting future health impacts, and informing adaptation responses, including: identifying research questions; planning research activities; managing research data and code; ethics applications; and reporting on research progress.
• Develop active research collaborations with other researchers in ACDI, across University of Cape Town, nationally and internationally.
• Publish regularly in high impact journals.
• Present research results at local and international meetings and other fora.
• Co-design research with policymakers and practitioners.
• Communicate research to diverse audiences, including policy makers and the public.
• Participate in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research.
• Develop data analysis methods and tools, such as data analysis code.
• Lead fundraising proposals that support the activities of the Climate Risk Lab, and manage relationships with funders.
• Supervise and mentor postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students.
• Coordinate with ACDI Finance Manager and Admin staff to manage research grants, including financial planning, procurement, recruitment, and expenses reporting.

The annual cost of employment for 2023, including benefits is between R712 437 and R1 027 040, and is under review for 2024.  This is a Senior Research Officer position equivalent in salary to a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town.

For queries, please email Dr Christopher Trisos (christopher.trisos@uct.ac.za) and cc Fundisiwe Malinga (fundisiwe.malinga@uct.ac.za)

To apply, please visit the UCT Internal Jobs Site (For Internal Applicants View) and UCT Jobs Site (For external Applicants View) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivational letter explaining fit to the position (not more than 2 pages)
• Statement of research interest and vision
• Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement-medical assessments.  References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries around the application process to be addressed to Ms Natasha Khan at recruitment06@uct.ac.za or 021 650 3469

Closing date:              14 March 2024 

Website:                     https://climaterisklab.com/and https://acdi.uct.ac.za/ 

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.

All the best with your applications.