Postdoctoral Research Fellow Opportunity

Supervisors: Dr Jessica Thorn and Prof John Mfune We are inviting applications for a 3.5-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship as part of the interdisciplinary "Future Landscape Optimisation for peri-Urban Resilience and Ecosystem Health in Africa (FLOURISH)" and the African Research and Innovation for Scientific Excellence pilot program. This position offers a unique opportunity for highly skilled and motivated scholars to advance their careers by evaluating the impact of urban green infrastructure regeneration on human health and climate adaptive capacity in informal settlements across Namibia, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone. The postholder will be based at the University of Namibia's Department of Environmental Sciences, with exchanges to the University of St Andrews, and work in collaboration with the University of St Andrews, African Academy of Sciences,  University of Antananarivo, and Shack Dwellers Federation. The project Recent climate shocks have highlighted how biodiversity loss, urbanisation, and structural inequality are converging to threaten planetary health. Amidst a global health crisis related to our increasingly frayed relationship with nature, current approaches to urban planning and risk reduction are acutely failing. This urgency has been recognised by the UN through the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The time is right to revisit the iconic and largely unrealised vision of Wangari Maathai where regenerative peri-urban landscapes and green-blue infrastructure are connected, are of quality, and are accessible to all. We will study the effectiveness of restoration strategies, impacts on ecosystem functions and services (or disservices) (e.g., carbon sequestration, flood/ temperature regulation, decomposition), and how these are moderated by time (in)variant site characteristics. We aim to understand under what conditions restoration approaches become regenerative and support the diffusion of actionable anticipatory adaptation. The project will leverage large-scale data on land use and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, NGOs, municipal partners, and communities, in green infrastructure initiatives. The fellowship starts in March 2024 for 42 months. It includes a salary of N$300,000 per year, covering research costs, fieldwork and knowledge exchange, excluding relocation and dependents' expenses. Candidates should Hold a relevant PhD (e.g., restoration ecology, statistics, climate science, biodiversity), preferably working in African environments; Have good spatial data analysis (e.g., ArcGIS), and programming proficiency (e.g., R, Python); Have experience in climate change adaptation and mitigation; Have a peer-reviewed publication track record corresponding to their career stage; and Demonstrate independence, field research capability, project management skills, and stakeholder engagement competence. The application should include a motivation letter, research proposal, full academic CV, academic transcripts, ID copies, a relevant writing sample, and three referee details. The University of St Andrews and University of Namibia strives for equal opportunities. Applications of any background are welcome. The contract is annually renewable, subject to satisfactory progress and funding. Applications must be submitted by 12th February 2024 to jessica.thorn@st-andrews.ac.uk  and jmfune@unam.na. Host institutions The University of Namibia's Department of Environmental Sciences offers an international environment, with comprehensive facilities and a collaborative research culture. The School of Geography and Sustainable Development at St Andrews is renowned for its research excellence, high teaching standards, and advanced geographic data analysis capabilities. The contract is annually renewable subject to satisfactory progress and continuation of funding for a period of 3.5 years. For further details, please contact Dr. Jessica Thorn or refer to the departmental HR administrator.