Post-doctoral Research Associate in Urban Risk

The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London (UCL) is an international centre specializing in academic teaching, practical training, research and consultancy in the fields of urban and regional development and planning. It is concerned with promoting sustainable forms of development, understanding rapid urbanization and encouraging innovation in the policy, planning and management responses to the economic, social and environmental development of cities and regions, especially in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Job summary:

Based in DPU’s vibrant hive of activity, a full time post doctoral research associate is required to work across two research projects related to urbanization, risk and resilience in sub-Saharan Africa.

Primarily, the post-holder will work on the £3.3million ESRC-DFID programme of research entitled Urban Africa: Risk Knowledge (Urban ARK). Urban ARK is a major investment by DFID and ESRC into urban resilience in Africa. It is structured around five urban settlements of varying size, social and economic context, hazard profile and development trajectory: Nairobi and Mombasa (Kenya), Ibadan (Nigeria), Niamey (Niger), Karonga (Malawi), and Dakar (Senegal). Urban ARK's international and interdisciplinary research is arranged in four key work packages. The post holder will work closely with project Co-Investigators at DPU to support the work package on Governance, Planning and Urban Development. (http://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/dpu/news/urban-africa-risk-knowledge-urbanization-poverty-africa)

Secondly, the post-holder will support the AXA Outlook project entitled Metrics for policy action in urban areas: Characterizing risks facing low-income groups. AXA Outlook projects are aimed at supporting researchers with the means to engage public in science on key emerging risks affecting civil society. The project addresses issues related to the environmental hazards and risks from lack of basic water and sanitation in informal settlements. Collaborating with a community of practitioners, researchers and policy-makers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and internationally, the project aims to bring into policy debate how to collect data and measure the environmental risks that people face and to enable local decision-makers to make informed planning decisions for risk reduction.

Responsibilities:

• The appointment includes the following responsibilities:
• Assist in the everyday management of the research projects.
• Travel to meetings and undertake field-work in East and West African countries.
• Prepare research materials (such as questionnaires for structured interviews, household surveys, etc) and process data in consultation with project partners.
• Support research assistants in-country to gather and analyse data using social science methods.
• Process, map spatially and analyse primary and secondary information
• Contribute to or prepare literature reviews, the development of progress and final reports, and project publications as well as other outputs.
• Assist in the design and regular update of dedicated project websites and coordinate and maintain the projects dissemination strategy
• Contribute to the integration and communication of findings with project partners
• Help generate communication and dissemination material about the projects, including presenting at conferences.

Person specification:

Essential:

• PhD or equivalent in the general area of urbanization in developing countries
• Quantitative and qualitative research skills
• Strong interdisciplinary analytical skills and capacity in managing and organizing information
• Proven ability to complete research projects
• Excellent skills in Excel, Access and Website Content Manager (or equivalent software)
• Excellent organisational skills and a flexible approach to working as part of a team that is both interdisciplinary and operating from several locations around the world
• Self motivation and proven experience of working under own initiative
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills in English, including attention to detail

Desirable:

• Specialization in fields of risk, disaster and/or climate change
• Knowledge of local governance, urban development and poverty in Africa Relevant peer reviewed publications
• Experience in the management of research or development projects, including budget management
• Proficiency in French or Kiswahili Spatial mapping skills, including GIS Using video and other multi-media communications in development work

Contractual details:

The appointment will be made for 28 months in the UCL Research Associate scheme and will initially be paid on salary grade 7, point 29. Salary is £ 33,353 per annum inclusive of London Allowance. Fixed term contract for 28 months, starting 1 October 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter. The successful applicant will be subject to the usual UCL probationary procedures.