Postdoctoral Research Associate: Climate-Related Diseases and Disparities

The Environmental Institute (EI) at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a postdoctoral Research Associate to join its Climate Fellows Postdoc Program.

The selected candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team of faculty mentors and researchers to realize the goals of a project i nvestigating the u nderlying c auses of c limate- r elated d iseases and d isparities in Virginia.

This research investigates racial, ethnic, and gender differences in health responses to climate factors. Utilizing patient-level information, including data from the CDC Social Vulnerability Index, state agencies, and U.

S. Census Data, the project aims to uncover underlying factors contributing to health disparities in the face of climate challenges, such as extreme heat exposure.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will address key questions related to disease patterns, economic differences, and healthcare quality.

Findings will inform targeted public health messaging and advance understanding of population responses to climate extremes, aiding preparation for future climate-related contingencies.

Eligibility and Selection Process

General Expectations

• Applicants must have received or will receive their doctoral degree by their appointment start date; we prefer candidates who have received their degree within five years prior to the start of the appointment.
• There is no citizenship requirement. UVA will help sponsor visas covering the duration of the postdoc .
• The successful Postdoctoral Research Associate will be appointed for one year with the possibility of second year funding, contingent on the successful completion of a first-year performance review.
• Applicants seeking to be considered for the Postdoctoral Research Associate role for this project will be evaluated on three main criteria :

1. the strength of their research.

2. their ability to collaborate across disciplines; and

3. their commitment to diversifying perspectives and voices in finding equitable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

Project-Specific Competencies :

The ideal candidate must demonstrate the following research skills and competencies.

• Experience working on topics in the human biometeorology and bioclimatology realm .
• Although we would not necessarily expect our candidate to bridge both the climate and medical disciplines, they must be comfortable with basic statistical modeling and have significant experience in either statistical climatology or biostatistics and epidemiology.
• Some experience working with climate data and ideally some exposure to health datasets .
• Most importantly, the candidate must be very comfortable working with large, complex datasets and have experience in programming and statistical analysis of these datasets .
• Additionally, they must be competent in analyzing spatial data fields .
• Demonstrated expertise , from their doctoral work, in data management .

Climate Fellows Postdoctoral Model :

Once selected, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will join a cohort of other Climate Fellows Program postdocs at UVA and will receive professional training, technical support, and computational infrastructure tailored to their project , for two (2) years .

The postdoc will receive direct mentoring from at least two UVA faculty members in different disciplines to help them build cross-disciplinary fluency in support of their own research.

They will join a network of faculty members from 30 departments in 12 schools across UVA focused on producing research and providing training that is both great and good at the intersection of climate change and human well-being .

Starting Salary : $65,000 / year

Research Funds : $5,000 / year

We partner with the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, UVA’s Career Center, and staff across the university to provide career development and extracurricular opportunities to student and postdoctoral faculty.

About the Institute :

The UVA Environmental Institute is the hub of interdisciplinary environmental research at the university. We provide seed funding, research experiences, and training to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students from the university’s 12 schools.

With a focus on impactful research, the Institute and its collaborators are committed to our mission to support interdisciplinary research and training that is both great and good at the intersection of climate change and human well-being, while ensuring that the full spectrum of human attributes, perspectives, identities, backgrounds, and disciplines is represented and making an explicit effort to diversify voices in finding equitable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

The University of Virginia is rated as one of the top three public universities in the nation and in the top 30 among all universities, public and private.

Charlottesville is frequently cited as one of the best cities in which to live and work. The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

To Apply :

External Applicants : Apply online , and search for R0055866.’ Complete an application online and attach the following :

• CV / Resumé
• Cover Letter, describing your research interest and how it aligns with the project.
• Personal Statement (highly encouraged, but not required ) : use this statement to reflect on your academic and research trajectory;

you may include a description of how your experiences relating to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other kind of identity marker have shaped your ability to contribute to the University of Virginia.

Contact information for three (3) references (name, email, telephone, and address).

Internal UVA Applicants : Please apply through your Workday Home page, search Find Jobs.

Application Timeline : Applications received by June 15, 2024 will receive first consideration.

For questions about the position, please contact Henry Boachi, Program Manager, at .

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Jessica Speth, Academic Recruiter, at .

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.

We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.