Call For Application: Young Researcher for Wahana Riset Indonesia Program as Research Assistant

Tags: climate change English Environment
  • Added Date: Thursday, 20 February 2025
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BE THE NEXT INDONESIAN YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHER!

About Wahana Riset Indonesia (Young Scientists Incubator)

Wahana Riset Indonesia (Young Scientists Incubator) is an initiative from WRI Indonesia to nurture a battalion of young researchers to conduct research on environmental issues and generate high-quality knowledge products, which will support science-based policy-making in sustainable development. This initiative is the third batch of its kind, where WRI Indonesia once again invites young people who has a specific interest in research to join. In the past, WRI Indonesia successfully managed 2 batches of Wahana Riset Indonesia over the course of 3 years from 2017 โ€“ 2019 resulting in 11 scientific publications, 4 international conference presentations, 6 policy notes, and 2 books.

For this year, Wahana Riset Indonesia has chosen the research theme of โ€œReimagining Resilient Coastal Cities in Indonesia.โ€ To support this theme, the young research assistant, at the end of this program, is expected to co-produce research products in one of the six main research areas: (1) Urban Coastal Climate Vulnerability and Resilience, (2) Coastal Livelihood and Food Security, (3) Sustainable Aquaculture/Marine Plastic Waste, (4) Air pollution in Coastal Areas, (5) Climate Action (Adaptation and Mitigation) Planning and Implementation, and (6) Urban transport/mobility.

About the Research

As the worldโ€™s largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, with over 58% of its population living in coastal citiesโ€”many of which are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Facing rapid urbanization and intensifying impacts of climate change, Indonesian cities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to environmental problems such as air pollution, food and plastic waste, and climate-induced risks like coastal flooding, sea level rise and warmer temperatures. By 2050, an estimated 23 million people in Indonesiaโ€™s coastal cities could be at risk due to rising sea levels. These climate threats are further exacerbated by unsustainable urban development, pollution, and overexploitation of coastal resources, weakening the resilience of both communities and ecosystems. Without urgent action, the socio-economic consequences could be devastating, especially for vulnerable communities who depend on coastal resources for their survival and livelihoods. Addressing these complex issues requires innovative, data-driven solutions and policies informed by applied research.

WRI Indonesia has been working extensively on trying to address these issues by working with governments, businesses, multilateral institutions and civil society groups to develop practical solutions to improve peopleโ€™s lives, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and ensure nature can thrive in Indonesia. By focusing on the climate resilience issues, this research incubator aims to support WRIโ€™s global impact targets and vision: โ€œAll urban residents enjoy a higher quality of life and livable and climate resilient neighborhoods with equitable and low carbon access to jobs and core services.โ€

Through this program, we ask the overarching question: \"How can Indonesia's coastal cities enhance climate resilience in the face of rapid urbanization and environmental change?โ€. To explore this high-level question, the Research Assistant will work with one of WRI-Indonesiaโ€™s two research clusters to conduct research on specific sub-themes where we aim to develop and refine our research questions and approaches in the effort to answer the overarching question. Some of the research areas include (but are not limited to):

  1. Urban Climate Vulnerability and Resilience
  2. Coastal Livelihoods and Food Security / Sustainable Aquaculture
  3. Marine plastic waste / waste management
  4. Air pollution in Coastal Areas
  5. Climate Action (Adaptation and Mitigation) Planning and Implementation.
  6. Urban transport/Mobility

    What We Are Looking For

    Preferably individuals who have an Undergraduate degree relevant to either one of following subjects: (1) Urban Climate Vulnerability and Resilience; (2) Coastal Livelihood and Food Security; (3) Sustainable Aquaculture and fisheries; (4) Air pollution; (5) Climate Action (Adaptation & Mitigation) Planning and Implementation; (6) Urban transport/Mobility.

    Early career researcher who have a minimum of 2 years of working experience and a minimum 3 years of research experience (research experience could include part-time research during university or research while working in the job).

    What You Should Have

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