Postdoctoral research position: Coastal Pathogens and Climate Change – One Health Living Lab
Bacterial and viral pathogens in coastal waters pose threats to health for a number of different agents – including occupational and recreational risks for activities in and around coasts. Under conditions of climate change, these risks are likely to increase for a number of reasons. For example, warming of the ocean is likely to influence the survival of bacteria and viruses. Exposure of humans to coastal waters may also change – as changing climates impact on human behaviour. Upstream, changes in pressures from wastewater, industry and agricultural processes may also influence the abundance of viruses and bacteria in our coasts.
In this context, BlueAdapt attempts to provide an evidence base for innovation and action around coastal pathogens, by bringing together an interdisciplinary team of biologists, climate scientists, economists, epidemiologists and public health experts to investigate the future health risks associated with selected coastal pathogens, and identify adaptation measures through concrete case studies. BlueAdapt will also provide tools to assess the impacts of policy responses and communicate the results to a wide audience, including both policymakers and the public.
BC3 will illustrate how an integrated approach to health can be used to co-produce knowledge in a local case study, the Bay of Biscay. In this context, BC3 will co-design a Pilot One Health Living Lab for the case study area, to analyse the complex interlinkages between coastal pathogens, environmental pollution, climate change, human exposure and One Health, including demographic and socio-economic factors. The Living Lab will act as a living knowledge platform for multi-perspective analysis, discussion and collaboration, in order to test the extended One Health conceptual framework, encourage collaboration and promotion of co-production of knowledge, develop approaches for the evaluation of One Health solutions and sustain postgraduate education in the field of One Health and coastal pathogens.
For these activities, BC3 is looking for a postdoctoral researcher who can support the principal Investigator in the scientific and communication tasks.
Job description:
The postdoctoral researcher will support the PI and the rest of the team, and participate in various activities related to the development of a local case study, the Bay of Biscay and the co-design of the Living Lab, in order to test the extended One Health conceptual framework.
Key responsibilities:
Contribute and support the co-design of the Pilot One Health Living Lab in the case study area, with contacts with stakeholders and key agents, and liaise with PiE-UPV/EHU for the integration of the findings of the environmental surveys realized in the case study area.
Contribute to the scientific activities related to cognitive maps and field work in the case study area, to analyse context-specific One Health interactions and interventions.
Contribute to the organization of stakeholders’ workshops and other activities with stakeholders for knowledge co-production in the case study area.
Support the development of policy implications related to the knowledge developed from the Living Lab activities, as well as dissemination materials.
Contribute to other tasks related to the project, support management tasks in the projects and communication with partners (including project meetings, conferences, deliverables).
Publish high-impact, peer-reviewed research in international scientific journals.
Main requirements/skills:
PhD in environmental or health sciences and demonstration of a track record of peer-reviewed publications as well as the ability to initiate and complete original research. As the field of application (One Heath and coastal pathogens) is interdisciplinary, other degrees might also be evaluated.
Knowledge of the literature on environment, health and climate change, One Health and methodologies related to knowledge integration such as cognitive mapping.
Ability to coordinate teamwork and interact with a broad range of scientific and policy stakeholders, and conduct transdisciplinary work.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Excellent written and oral command of English. A good knowledge of Spanish is desirable for the case study analysis.
Benefits and work environment
Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment
Quiet and spacious workspaces
Possibility of participating in internal training and academic activities of the centre
35-hour week work calendar