Postdoc on the DANIDA-funded “Cities of Youth” project on migration and health in Uganda

The Danish Centre for Health Economics (DaCHE) and the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), University of Southern Denmark, seek to appoint a postdoc (100% time) as part of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) funded Cities of Youth project. The PI is Associate Professor Angela Chang. The starting date for the position is 1 January 2025 or earlier. The position is available for a fixed term of 24 months and comes with a competitive, full-time salary. Extension can be explored based on future funding opportunities.
The Danish Centre for Health Economics (DaCHE) and the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), University of Southern Denmark, seek to appoint a postdoc (100% time) as part of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) funded Cities of Youth project. The PI is Associate Professor Angela Chang. The starting date for the position is 1 January 2025 or earlier. The position is available for a fixed term of 24 months and comes with a competitive, full-time salary. Extension can be explored based on future funding opportunities.

Uganda is increasingly experiencing large effects of climate change, which are contributing to internal climate migration. With more than 70% of its population engaging in crop agriculture or pastoralism, climate-related push and pull factors have encouraged rural-to-urban migration, especially among young people who are also seeking livelihood opportunities in urban centres. University of Southern Denmark (SDU), in collaboration with Makerere University and Tufts University, have been awarded a grant from DANIDA to study youth climate migration and their impacts in secondary cities in Uganda. The project, Cities of Youth: The gendered impact of climate migration on health and well-being of youth migration, and system capacity in secondary cities in Uganda, will start in April 2024 and be completed by late 2028.

As part of Cities of Youth, we are seeking an experienced postdoc for two years to be based in Denmark. The postdoc will lead one of the key research areas of the project while providing both technical and administrative support for the larger team. Specifically, the project aims to empirically assess the relationships between different dimensions of climate variability and health and demographic outcomes in Uganda. On the health and demographic side, we will obtain secondary data from national surveys, such as Demographic and Health Survey, Uganda National Panel Survey, Living Standards Measurement Survey, and the United Nations’ World Population Prospects on levels and changes of mortality, morbidity, fertility, social and educational outcomes, and other variables of interest. We will also search for subnational and district-level data, such as local census and health information systems. In parallel, on the climate side, we will document the changes in climate indicators, such as temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events using satellite data (ERA-5, global forest change, NASA’s Giovanni, PANGAEA, and EU's Copernicus databases) and explore access to local weather stations era. We will link health and well-being data to the climate data and apply machine learning algorithms to leverage high-frequency climate, disease, and mortality time series.

The successful candidate will be part of a team of Ugandan and American research team, and will also be embedded in DaCHE and DIAS, two vibrant and international research communities at SDU.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the research on empirical assessment of the relationships between different dimensions of climate variability and health and demographic outcomes in Uganda.
• Lead technical and administrative efforts on the Danish side to work with Ugandan collaborators in designing the study and preparing for primary data collection
• Participate in regular meetings of the project team, and travel to Uganda twice a year

• A PhD degree in global health, health economics, epidemiology, demography, or a related quantitative discipline
• Experience working with publicly available datasets, such as Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS), and other household surveys
• Project management skills, with experience in coordinating and communicating with multiple research partners
• Excellent English written skills

Desired

• Experience working in Uganda or neighbouring countries
• Experience with primary data collection in low- and middle-income country setting
• Publication record in climate and health research

Information
Enquiries about the project and the position can be addressed to the Principal Investigator, Angela Chang, email: [email protected]. For general questions regarding housing, taxes etc., the SDU’s International Staff Office can assist - see link.

Application, salary, etc.

Appointment to the position requires a PhD or equivalent and will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Researchers who have not worked in Denmark before taking up this position may be eligible for a special tax scheme that reduces Danish income tax for up to 7 years. You can find more information about this tax scheme here.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now".

The application must include (as PDF files) (please note that the application (the motivation letter) and CV must not exceed 10 MB in total):

• A detailed CV;
• A motivation letter (max. 2 pages);
• A research plan (max. 2 pages, excluding references) that describes the applicant's existing research agenda and how it relates to this call, and plans on how to conduct research within the project’s framework
• Certificates/Diplomas (MA and PhD degree);
• A complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position;
• Up to 3 of the most relevant publications (including unpublished work). Please upload a pdf for each publication.

If you experience technical problems, you must contact [email protected]

Only applications submitted online and written in English will be accepted for evaluation.

Incomplete applications will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting will be used in the recruitment process.

Living and working in Denmark

Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation, housing and accompanying family.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

Placering: Odense, Denmark