Research Assistant position: Coastal Pathogens and Climate Change – One Health Living Lab


The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) offers a full-time Research Assistant Position within the Horizon Europe project BlueAdapt (GA 101057764 funded by HORIZON-HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-02-03 call), a 4 year research project coordinated by BC3. The position will be located at the BC3 research group Health and Climate, within the Adaptation Lab research line.

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 research assistant who can support the BC3 research team in the scientific and communication tasks.

Job description:

The research assistant will work jointly with the BlueAdapt research team and participate in various activities in the project.

The selected person will be located at the Basque Centre for Climate Change, Bilbao, Spain, and will work under the direct supervision of Aline Chiabai and Marc Neumann, according to the needs of the project. The applicant is expected to comply with the standards of conduct and ethics imposed by the host institution (BC3).

Key responsibilities:

  • Literature review in the topics related to the project.
  • Prepare materials and support for the organization of surveys, focus groups and interviews.
  • Support in the creation of databases for one health indicators.
  • Participate to the co-design of the One Health Living Lab and related activities.
  • Visit regularly the PiE-UPV/EHU to conduct fieldwork in the Bay of Plentzia.
  • Contribute to the development of the deliverables and documents of the project.

Main requirements/skills:

  • Master’s degree in environmental sciences, biology or ecology.
  • Good oral and written communication skills, interpersonal and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural team.
  • Fluency in English is required and a working level of Spanish.
  • A strong motivation, interest in environmental issues, interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Ability to work independently is also required.

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
  • 30 days of vacation per year

Term of contract

Starting Autumn 2024 or early 2025, depending on the availability of the candidate, the position will be until the end of the project (September 2026), with a six-month probationary period.

 

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Salary

The position will carry competitive salary, matching the academic and professional profile of the applicant, and excellent work conditions.

Location

Basque Centre for Climate Change, Leioa, Spain.

As an HR Excellence awarded institution, BC3 is committed to conciliating research-academic requirements and family duties. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equal opportunities for people independently of gender, culture, and race. Anyone with relevant qualifications is therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.

Application procedure:

Fill the form below and upload one PDF document with the following information:

  1. CV
  2. One-page MOTIVATION LETTER.
  3. Contact information of two referees.

Deadline

30th of August 2024

Informal enquiries can be made to Aline Chiabai (aline.chiabai@bc3research.org) or Marc Neumann (marc.neumann@bc3research.org) noting in the subject of the message “BlueAdapt research assistant position”

Please consider that only applications sent through the form included at the bottom of the BC3 web page will be considered (https://info.bc3research.org/job-offers/).,

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Project 101057764 funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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María de Maeztu Excellence Unit 2023-2027 Ref. CEX2021-001201-M, funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033

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