We are seeking a dedicated and self-driven researcher to support an innovative, transdisciplinary research project titled “Applying transdisciplinary and youth-driven citizen science to address air pollution and create healthy climate-resilient cities.”
The project is a partnership between three institutions:
UrbanBetter: a rapidly growing Africa-led global social venture startup with a mission to accelerate the building of healthy climate-resilient urban environments in rapidly growing cities worldwide. UrbanBetter is committed to building a youth-led, data-driven, Africa-led global movement mobilising individuals, communities and organisations for healthy, sustainable urban environments through advocacy, practice and learning pillars.
MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge: a department of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine with the mission to investigate the individual and combined effects of these factors and to develop and evaluate strategies to prevent these diseases and their consequences to improve the health of people in the UK and around the world.
University of Lagos Center for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD), an African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Center of Excellence for Urbanization and Habitable Cities. The Centre coordinates research and teaching in urbanisation and habitable cities amongst the thirteen member African universities, which is an excellent platform for engagement with the community of practice in these areas and a hub for generating sustainable development data for African cities.
LOCATION
- Lagos, Nigeria.
ROLE SUMMARY
This role will be based in Lagos, Nigeria, and focuses on leveraging the healthcare sector and the power of youth citizen science to tackle air pollution and enhance urban climate resilience in Lagos. The project aims to achieve several key objectives related to air pollution, health, and community engagement.
As the Research Associate, you will manage the daily study operations, supervise research assistants in data collection and coordinate activities and objectives with team members and stakeholders. You will report to and work closely with the Principal Investigators to implement the research objectives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Project Coordination:
- Assist in the design and implementation of the research project.
- Coordinate with team members, community partners, and external stakeholders to ensure smooth project execution.
- Supervising junior staff and providing guidance to Research Assistants.
- Community Engagement & Participant Recruitment:
- Collaborate with local communities and youth groups to facilitate their involvement in the project.
- Recruit ~ 385 young people in Lagos to participate in the research study.
- Liaise with health authorities in Lagos to facilitate the recruitment of health professionals
- Conduct workshops and training sessions to educate and engage participants in citizen science and environmental awareness.
- Conduct Focus Group Discussions with participants at the end of the study to reflect on findings and their implications/recommendations to policymakers.
- Conducting Surveys and Interviews
- Supervise and train research assistants in the SOPs required for the research.
- Conduct surveys using a combination of quantitative questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
- Conduct in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals across various work tiers in Lagos.
- Data Collection and Management:
- Supervise qualitative and quantitative data collection.
- Gather, organise, and maintain research data related to air pollution, health, and community engagement from various sources, including from District Health Information Software (DHIS), Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO), citizen scientists and local communities.
- Use database tools like REDCap for data collection, storage, and management.
- Ensure data integrity and accuracy, and manage data storage securely.
- Literature Review:
- Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on air pollution, climate resilience, and related topics.
- Summarise, synthesise and write up findings to support ongoing research and project development.
- Data Analysis:
- Perform qualitative and quantitative data analysis using relevant software.
- Integrate the quantitative and qualitative findings.
- Interpret results and assist in the preparation of reports, publications, and presentations.
- Administrative Support:
- Prepare materials for presentations, meetings, and community outreach.
- Manage project documentation, track progress, and report on milestones.
- Compliance and Ethics:
- Ensure all research activities comply with institutional policies and ethical standards.
- Maintain confidentiality and integrity in handling sensitive information.
- Dissemination and Reporting:
- Work with local and international media outlets to focus attention on the study results.
- Presenting research findings at conferences, meetings, or through publications.
- Develop grant applications for larger or more advanced transdisciplinary studies.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Skills
- Advanced analytical skills and proficiency in statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, SAS) and qualitative data analysis software (e.g. NVivo, ATLAS.ti).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organisational and time management abilities.
- Attention to detail and accuracy in work.
- Experience:
- Previous experience in a research setting, particularly related to environmental science or public health in Lagos, is preferred.
- Demonstrable experience with database tools for data collection and management (e.g. REDCap, Epi Info, Open Data Kit (ODK))
- Demonstrable experience with accessing and using DHIS health data.
- Experience with research design, implementation and writing.
- Strong understanding of research methodologies and data analysis techniques.
- Community engagement experience, particularly related to environmental/ public health.
- Demonstrable experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Other requirements:
- Existing partnerships/connections with government actors in the health sector (additional partnerships in the environment and climate sectors are also desirable).
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Willingness to travel within Lagos for community engagement and data collection activities.
- Experience working with youth is desirable.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Public Health, Sociology, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years postgraduate research experience in quantitative and qualitative research.
SALARY
USD 13,000 gross/year; commensurate with the experience.
DURATION
Full-time. 1 Year.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A cover letter detailing motivation and qualifications.
- A current resume or CV.
- Contact information for three professional referees.
Submit applications to: jobs@urbanbetter.science. Title the subject line of your email: Research Associate Application.
The application process will remain open until 07:00 UTC on Friday, September 27th, 2024. Interviews will be conducted in October, with an anticipated start date in November 2024.
As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, returning parents, carers or any other aspect which makes them unique. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps we can take to ensure that the recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable. We are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of our employees from all forms of harm.
