Postdoctoral Fellow-Health Risk Assessment, Modeling and Mitigation International Water Management Institute

As part of its new science portfolio, ‘Water, Land and Ecosystems’, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) wishes to strengthen its program of Resource Recovery & Reuse (RR&R) (http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/CRP5/Chapter-6.aspx ). Our aim is to create a world in which domestic and agricultural waste streams are a resource for the production of safe irrigation water, fertilizer and energy for in the benefit of local markets. We believe that using a business perspective on resource recovery from waste materials such as market waste, fecal sludge and wastewater will enable cost reduction in the sanitation service chain. Our proposition is that this will make sanitation service delivery more attractive and benefit impoverished urban dwellers whilst also helping to sustain urban food supply, generating jobs and enhancing livelihoods for millions of poor households in peri-urban areas of developing countries.

IWMI is seeking highly motivated scientists with a range of skills and knowledge to strengthen our RR&R team. Whether you are fresh from your PhD studies or have a great deal of experience already, we can promise scientists an exciting platform for this challenging endeavor at the agriculture-sanitation interface. We also seek those who are considering extending their studies in this subject so PhD sponsorship may be a possibility.

The following positions are now available and scientists with expertise in any of the areas outlined below are encouraged to apply. We are flexible about the level at which we appoint to the positions and will take into account background, experience and skills. Similarly, if you are interested in more than one position then please indicate this on your application letter.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW-HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT, MODELING AND MITIGATION
Ghana, Sri Lanka or India

IWMI particularly encourages candidates from developing countries to apply.

The Person and the Job
If you have a background in the assessment, modeling and mitigation of health risks related to poor sanitation in developing countries, and have recently completed your PhD, this could be just the assignment for you.
IWMI seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow in its Resource Recovery & Reuse (http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/CRP5/Chapter-6.aspx) group which will contribute from a health perspective to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of risks and risk mitigation options in the domain of resource recovery from domestic and agro-industrial waste (solid waste, wastewater, fecal matter, etc.) in urban and peri-urban low-income settings across Asia and Africa.

This position reports to the Theme Leader, Water Quality, Health and Environment.

You will:
• guide the health risk assessment of existing waste and wastewater reuse project and enterprises including the design and supervision of field data collection and analysis;
• model health risks within feasibility studies for planned reuse cases at different scale;
• liaise with public and private sector stakeholders on the feasi bility of risk monitoring and risk reducing options applicable to the local context and risk perceptions;
• work within a multi-disciplinary team merging social, economic, environmental, and technical analysis related to the recovery of water, nutrients, organic matter and biogas from waste, including joint collecting and analysis of data;
• contribute ideas about linking in safe ways agriculture and san itation to enhance food security and business opportunities along the sanitation value chain in low-income settings; and
• prepare scientific reports and articles for peer-reviewed journals and represent IWMI, as required, at national and international events.

You must possess:
• a recent PhD and professional experience in the health sector, preferably in research in the area of expertise described in this announcement, ideally with a proven record of work in low-income countries;
• knowledge of sanitation in low-income countries and related wat erborne diseases, and the 2006 wastewater use in agriculture guidelines of WHO;
• knowledge of health risk modeling and analysis, such as QMRA, m ulti-variable statistics, and simulation software (e.g. Matlab);
• knowledge of options for health risk reduction in low-income an d low-risk awareness settings;
• a degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Public Health o r related disciplines;
• excellent written and spoken English; other languages would be an additional advantage;
• ability to establish priorities, plan, organize and monitor own work in a multiple task environment;
• strong interpersonal skills to maintain effective relationships in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams;
• ability to work respectfully with local and international partners and
• proven ability to write scientific papers.

It would be useful if you have:
• experience in project management;
• knowledge about non-pathogenic risk factors of poor sanitation, especially heavy metals;
• worked in environmental risk/impact assessment; and
• experience of LCA, MFA, GIS or have some background in economic analysis.

A postdoctoral contract is available for two years and is non-renewable. IWMI salaries are competitive with those of similar international institutions and offer a range of benefits including housing and utilities allowance, vehicle allowance, education allowance, annual home leave, health insurance package and shipping assistance.

Please submit your application online at: www.iwmi.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies/

Complete Application Form + attach your résumé + attach your letter which addresses IWMI’s requirements shown above with names and email addresses of 3 professional referees, to be contacted if you are short-listed

Your application will be acknowledged automatically within 24 hours. If not, please email us at work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org

The position will remain open until filled. We will begin reviewing applications on 6 November 2011

The International Water Management Institute (www.iwmi.org) is a non-profit, scientific organization engaged in research and capacity building activities for developing countries. Our mission is to overcome poverty through better management of land and water resources. Working with diverse partners and supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (www.cgiar.org), IWMI seeks to translate its research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, resource managers and poor rural communities. IWMI is based in Sri Lanka and has regional offices in 12 countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms of both gender and nationality.