Research Associate, Lived Experience into Policy Action

The role

Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves. Cities are more exposed to heat – ‘the urban heat island effect’ – because the cityscape and building materials absorb thermal energy, increasing the average temperature compared to surrounding rural areas. Building on previous research on the lived experience of extreme heat, this new project will translate its findings into policy insights that are of relevance to Bristol City Council (BCC) and the strategic goals laid out in the ‘Keep Bristol Cool Framework’.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team of academics (Prof Ulrika Maude from the Centre for Health, Humanities and Science, Dr Eunice Lo from the Cabot Institute, Dr Joanne Godwin from PolicyBristol and Profs Nic Timpson and Kate Northstone from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)), and Bristol City Council (BCC) public health and sustainability leads, to develop, deploy, and analyse a survey focusing on the lived experience and behaviour of BCC tenants during heatwaves. The findings will be used to develop guidance for council tenants as well as a policy briefing for relevant BCC teams (Public Health, Climate Resilience, Housing).

What will you be doing?

The post-holder will:

• Support development and deployment of a survey of Bristol City Council tenants on extreme weather experiences;
• Analyse, both quantitatively and qualitatively, data collected from the survey;
• Liaise with Bristol City Council colleagues to share findings, support knowledge exchange and develop guidance for tenants;
• Develop a roadmap for future work.

You should apply if

You will have a PhD or are close to finishing a PhD in a relevant subject, including social sciences, public health, environmental sciences, or climate science. You are experienced in collecting data through questionnaires, utilising citizen science, handling large population datasets, analysing data quantitatively with programming (e.g., R, Python) and qualitatively through interviews. You are self-motivated and interested in interdisciplinary work at the intersection of climate and health.

Additional information

For informal enquiries please contact:

Prof Ulrika Maude, ulrika.maude@bristol.ac.uk

Interviews are expected to be held in the middle of November 2024.

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