Folks I am forwarding this job announcement from the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI) at Columbia University. Please direct your inquiries to IRI. Malanding S. Jaiteh -----Original Message----- > > Dear Colleagues > > The IRI is currently searching for an outstanding individual to assist > the IRI in the development of the application of climate prediction > information in the health arena. This is one of four positions being > advertised - addressing water, health, disaster mitigation, and climate > analysis support. > > I'm writing to enlist your help to disseminate the ad in the health > community. Please pass this on to others as you see fit. If there are > news bulletins worth posting the ad on, please advise me. (Note the > April date for review of candidates has been deferred - we continue to > welcome applications but are hoping for an early resolution.) > > Thanks for your help. > > Reid > ____________ > Health > (See http://iri.ldeo.columbia.edu/iri/job/ for more details). > > The scientist will assist in shaping and coordinating the IRI's > applications research activities concerned with the health sector, as > well as participating in research and development projects. Current > studies in which the IRI is active include the development of a global > prediction scheme for the dengue vector based on climate forecasts and a > climate-driven mosquito model, the development of climate indices in > support of a pilot malaria early warning system in Africa, and a focused > study of climate-health relationships in a village in Mali. While > vector-borne diseases are the principal focus, a number of other > climate-sensitive diseases or health issues are of interest and there > are often critical interrelationships between health and other > climate-sensitive factors that the IRI is concerned with, such as water, > food security and land use. Crosscutting issues, e.g. concerning the > nature of vulnerability, communication of uncertain information, and > institutional behavior are also relevant to the health sector. The three > principal areas of responsibility are: > - Help identify and develop the IRI's applications research on the > effective use of climate analysis and prediction in the health sector, > in collaboration with climate scientists and applications experts within > the IRI, Columbia University, and other partners. > - Contribute to the development of external collaborative research > and capacity building activities on the application of climate > prediction among the climate-health research community, public health > managers and practitioners, and funding bodies such as research > foundations, UN bodies, non-governmental organizations and development > banks. > - Undertake research as part of the IRI mission-oriented programs. > > The candidate should have a Ph.D., or equivalent level of medical > qualification, in a relevant field such as public health, tropical > medicine, environmental health, disease ecology, epidemiology, social > geography or medical anthropology. The candidate should have at least 2 > years post-doctoral work experience, preferably with emphasis on > problems and projects which have involved a mix of medical, ecological > and social factors. Expertise or experience in the study and management > of heath variability and risk, including statistical analysis of > patterns, trends and epidemics, would be very valuable. Familiarity with > the basic characteristics of the globe's climate, including the El Nino > and other key processes, and the role of climate in society and climate > impacts assessment is very desirable. Experience in practical settings > such as working with health policy managers, public health service > managers, doctors, health service users or the disaster mitigation > community is highly desirable. A working knowledge of the health > services sector, including its organizational and cultural factors would > be very desirable. (See also General Requirements listed above.) > > Candidates should have the ability and strong desire to develop > innovative scientific solutions to practical problems and the ability to > plan and execute collaborative projects. Strong written and verbal > communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work constructively > in multidisciplinary and team environment are essential. Competency in > English is essential and skills in other languages are very desirable. > Candidates must be willing to travel and to represent the IRI in diverse > settings around the world, and to contribute to training events. A > knowledge of development issues and experience of less-developed country > settings would be very desirable. > > The International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI) was > established in 1996 to advance the development and application of > climate prediction science, for the benefit of societies throughout the > globe (see http://iri.ldeo.columbia.edu/). Ocean-atmospheric > interactions, particularly the El Niņo Southern Oscillation phenomenon, > result in heavy climatic impacts on many countries, especially > less-developed countries in the tropics. The IRI produces global climate > prediction information on a routine basis and it networks and > collaborates widely among a global community of researchers and other > stakeholders to foster the field. As part of the development of its > multidisciplinary team of researchers based at its headquarters in > Palisades, New York, the IRI is searching for a number of outstanding > individuals to help develop an expanded applications research program. > The host institution, Columbia University, has classified the > appointments at the Associated Research Scientist (ARS) level, but the > higher Research Scientist (RS) level or other types of appointments or > secondments might be considered in the case of exceptional candidates. A > Ph. D. is required for ARS and RS appointments. Columbia University > fringe benefits accompany the appointments, and an independent campus > daycare center is available. > > Candidates are requested to state which position(s) they are interested > in and to provide a vita which must include an email address, along with > a statement of research interests and career objectives, and the names, > addresses, and telephone numbers of three referees from whom comments > and letters of recommendation can be obtained if required. This should > be sent either by mail to: Search Committee/Applications, International > Research Institute for Climate Prediction, Attention Ann Binder, Room > 125, Monell Building, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia > University, P O Box 1000, Palisades, NY 10964, or by e-mail in ASCII > format to: [log in to unmask] Screening will begin on or about > March 31, 2001. The IRI, as part of Columbia University acts > affirmatively toward equal employment opportunity. Women and minorities > are encouraged to apply. > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------