We are recruiting for a 3.5 year full time post-doctoral researcher to work with Ben, Ruth, Tim, Conny and Becca at ECEHH on two H2020 funded green infrastructure and nature based solutions projects! This post will involve a variety of tasks including evidence mapping and synthesis, scoping and assessment of quantitative secondary data availability, application of value transfer methodologies, and qualitative enquiry (including photovoice).

The Horizon 2020 projects

The RECONECT project is a transdisciplinary and multi-sectoral partnership of researchers, industrial partners and authorities or agencies at local and watershed and regional level primarily across Europe. The aim of the project is to create a framework to support co-creation and collaboration around using Nature Based Solutions effectively for reducing hydro-meteorological risks. The project is led by IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands.The RECONECT project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 776866.

The multi-disciplinary REGREEN project aims to promote urban liveability, by systematically modelling and combining ecosystem services and biodiversity as the basis for Nature Based Solutions that can be widely deployed by public and private actors. The results will enable urban planners and policy makers to address climate change resilience, public health and well-being and social inclusion in cities in both Europe and China. The project is led by Aarhus University in Denmark. The REGREEN project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821016.

Our role at ECEHH on the two H2020 projects is to investigate the health and wellbeing impacts of Nature Based Solutions.

The Nature Based Solutions for Health & Wellbeing role

The primary activities of the role relating to the RECONECT project are to contribute to:

• An evidence mapping of the health benefits of Nature-Based Solutions for reducing hydro-meteorological risk;
• Application of benefit transfer and Health Impact Assessment methodologies to estimate the potential health impacts of interventions.

The primary activities of the role relating to the REGREEN project are to contribute to:

• Reviewing and integrating current knowledge on the quantification of multiple values and benefits from NBS and restored urban ecosystems;
• Developing understanding of how eople perceive, interact with and respond to urban natural environments through exploration and integration of novel data resources and in-depth qualitative enquiry (including photovoice); and
• Assessing monetary and non-monetary values and benefits from restored and improved urban ecosystems in cities using a range of methodologies to capture the complex network of intervention impacts.

The post will also involve the preparation of application for ethical approval, and the writing of reports and papers. The two projects are part of the family of European Commission Nature Based Solutions projects.

We are looking for someone who has or is near to completing a PhD, or has appropriate research experience in a relevant subject including, but not limited to; health research, economics, sociology, psychology, geography or equivalent research experience and knowledge.

Starting salary for this appointment will be on grade E (£29,515 up to £34,189 per annum) depending on qualifications and experience.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The closing date for applications is 20th August 2019. You can find more information and guidance on how to apply online on the University of Exeter recruitment pages.

If you have any questions about the role contact Dr Ben Wheeler.

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