Umeå University - with its 36,700 students and over 4,200 employees - is an organisation in constant change and development. Umeå University conducts groundbreaking research within several areas - several in which we are among the best in the world - within others regarded as the leaders in Sweden. We are one of Sweden’s largest providers of education and offer a broad and attractive range of courses and programmes. Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment for everyone that studies and works here. We wish to co-operate with companies and organisations throughout the Umeå region and all over the world.

Postdoctoral Position

in the subject of Medical Science oriented towards Climate change impacts on Global Health (2 years)

To begin: 1 May 2012

Climate change will cause a number of important public health concerns, particularly in low and middle income tropical countries. One of these health concerns is the direct effect of increasing heat exposure on working people. The life and work of several billion people will be affected by these heat challenges.  In addition to the heat stroke risk, daily work productivity will be reduced and the local economy affected when full work capacity cannot be maintained during the hottest parts of days in the hot season. The Umeå Centre for Global Health Research at Umeå University is one of few research groups in the world that focuses on climate change and health. The research theme of climate change and global health includes studies of effects on working people. We carry out field studies of heat exposure, health effects and human performance effects in tropical countries, as well as risk assessment and analysis of policies and programs that can reduce workplace heat exposures and effects. The research activities involve collaboration with other universities in tropical countries, as well as in Norway, United Kingdom and Australia.

Work description
The aim of this postdoc position is to strengthen the ongoing research on climate change related heat exposure and effects on working people. The focus is on working populations in tropical low and middle income countries.  A number of pilot studies and other local research projects have been initiated by our research team in more than ten countries close to the equator, from Nicaragua in the western hemisphere via South Africa to India and other countries on to China in the eastern hemisphere. The postdoc is expected to provide expertise and assistance in epidemiological analyses, drafting of publications, and fund raising for continued studies in these countries and new initiatives in the same or other countries. The work will involve travel to several of our partner countries.

Institutional setting
The Centre for Global Health Research, located within the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, unit of Epidemiology and Global Health will host this PhD position. The Swedish Research Council (VR) funded the Swedish Research School for Global Health that is hosted jointly by this unit in Umeå and by the Committee for International Research Training (KIRT) at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. The successful applicant for this position will work within this overall research and teaching environment. The unit of Epidemiology and Global Health comprises approximately 80 people including administrative staff and doctoral students. Characteristics are multi-disciplinarity with a combination of medical and social perspectives, a North-South perspective and a synergy between quantitative and qualitative research methods. The department teaches a large number of courses on graduate as well as post-graduate level for students in the medical and public health sciences.

Qualifications
The postdoc should have PhD degree in an area that is relevant to the intended research. This could be in medicine, social sciences or environmental sciences, but a research focus on effects on human populations is essential. Knowledge of occupational health or other workforce issues is of importance, as well as an understanding of the human threats that climate change will bring. Demonstrated skills in epidemiological analyses of field study and register data are of great importance.

Fluency in spoken and written English language is an essential qualification. In the evaluation of the candidate the applicant´s ability to independently perform tasks related to the post-doctoral project, and the ability to independently write research reports and papers will be given high priority.

Further information
The application should include an academic Curriculum Vitae, a short description of experience indicating the suitability for the position and the reasons for interest, and contact details for at least two academic references.

For more information, contact Joacim Rocklöv, +46 (0)90-785 33 46 or +46 (0)70-636 16 35. For trade union information, contact SACO, +46 (0)90-786 53 65, SEKO civil, +46 (0)90-786 52 96 and ST, +46 (0)90-786 54 31.

The application period for this advert has expired.