Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Change and Health 80-100%

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is a world-leading institute in global health with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Associated with the University of Basel, Swiss TPH combines research, education and services at local, national and international levels. 950 people from 95 nations work at Swiss TPH focusing on infectious and non-communicable diseases, environment, society and health as well as health systems and interventions.

The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH), within Swiss TPH, develops and applies epidemiological, statistical and mathematical methods to advance innovation, validation and application in the field of public health. The Environmental Exposures and Health Unit (EEH), Disease Modelling Unit (DM) and the Urban Public Health Unit (UPH) of EPH are currently looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Change and Health (80-100%).

Your position

We are hiring for a postdoc position in environmental epidemiology to work on projects related to climate change, heat and health. The postdoctoral researcher will specifically contribute to a Swiss TPH program grant, which aims to enhance the resilience of primary care systems and vulnerable populations to major threats of climate change, both in Switzerland and abroad. This multidisciplinary program seeks to advance understanding of heat-related morbidity and climate-driven vector-borne diseases (VBDs), and to develop practical tools for effective prevention and mitigation strategies.

Your various responsibilities include:

• You will contribute to the heat vulnerability assessment in Swiss primary health care by designing and conducting advanced data analyses using Swiss routine primary care data. This will involve evaluating the short-term effects of heat on general practitioners’ (GP) consultations, identifying critical meteorological parameters, and determining vulnerable patient groups. The analysis will be conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Primary Care at the University of Zurich
• You will contribute to other research activities related to the assessment of heat-related health effects, development and evaluation of adaptation measures in Switzerland and Côte d’Ivoire. There is scope to pursue own research interests within these broad parameters
• Preparation, publication of scientific manuscripts. Support of stakeholder meetings
• Engage in teaching activities, supervision of PhD and master students

Your profile

You should have the following experience and skills:

• PhD in epidemiology or related field
• Experience analyzing large datasets, and experience in epidemiological data analysis with a strong interest in novel methods for causal inference. Knowledge of qualitative research methods is also valuable
• Excellent scientific writing ability and strong oral communication skills
• Excellent English language skills (speaking and writing). German and/or French language skills are considered a strong asset for this position
• Excellent knowledge of programming, data management methods, quantitative analytical methods (preferably in R or Stata)
• Ability to work effectively, independently and flexibly. Strong spirit of teamwork, open for collaboration across scientific disciplines and to engage in transdisciplinary research
• Ambition to contribute to scientific progress as well as to performing societal relevant research

We offer you

• Meaningful work in an international environment
• A state-of-the-art workplace in the new Swiss TPH building with its own canteen on the dynamic BaseLink site in Allschwil
• You will benefit from the integration in two well-established academic institutions: Swiss TPH and Institute of Primary Care of the University of Zurich
• Interesting encounters with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
• Attractive employment conditions, versatile further education opportunities and mentoring

• Start Date: April 2025 or by agreement
• Duration: Limited, the initial appointment is for two years
• Percentage: 80-100%
• Location: Allschwil and Zurich. Main workplace will be in Allschwil, Switzerland (Swiss THP). Data analysis with the GP data will be performed in Zurich at the Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich
• Travel required: There may be the opportunity to collaborate in partner studies with Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

• CV
• Motivational letter including names and contact information (email or phone number) of 1 - 2 references
• Reference certificates and diploma