Disaster and climate resilience analysts

The Systemic Risk and Resilience (SYRR) Research Group in the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program is offering pre or postdoc positions. The successful candidates will conduct disaster & climate resilience analysis with a focus on resilience measurement.

background

The mission of the SYRR group is to contribute to transforming the way societies manage risks to economic, ecological, and social systems while confronting the global trends that are amplifying these risks. The program examines environmental and socio-economic interactions across multiple scales, providing the analytical foundation for improved management and governance of natural disasters, climate change, and technological and ecological transitions. Our specialty is applying advanced hard and soft systems science methods for assessing and analyzing risks and uncertainties, and designing risk governance processes, to improve policy outcomes on global change issues, such as extreme events, socio-economic development, and environmental degradation.

The project

The successful applicants will join a transdisciplinary team to work on the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance project. As the research co-lead, IIASA undertakes evidence-based research to inform the development of community-based flood resilience strategies and break ground towards transformational adaptation to prevent climate-related disasters. IIASA key research contributions involve identifying innovative ways to substantially increase investments into transformational risk reducing and resilience-building actions before flood strikes, including through work in support of the Flood/Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (F/CRMC) tool, which applies resilience measurement to more than 300 communities across the world to inform the implementation of resilience measures. IIASA is also contributing cutting-edge research on decision-making for flood risk reduction and resilience (see also Flood Resilience Alliance Portal).

main tasks and responsibilities

The successful applicants will work with the IIASA team and other partners in the Flood Resilience Alliance on community-level disaster and climate resilience measurement for resilience building. Task will include:

• Statistical analysis and validation of qualitative and quantitative data from the F/CRMC tools.
• Organizing and undertaking in-depth interviews and collaborative workshops with colleagues within the Zurich Alliance on the use of the F/CRMC tools.
• Translation of findings into practical recommendations to support community work and global advocacy within the Alliance.
• Generate and deliver publishable project outcomes, comprising journal articles, presentations, and internal Alliance reports/briefings.
• Conduct research on community-level decision support tools (scenario processes), integrating Zurich Alliance and IIASA resources to produce both academic publications and practical tools.
  • In line with the team spirit that prevails at IIASA, the successful candidate may occasionally work on other tasks assigned by their supervisors, that might not be directly related to this appointment but where the post holder has relevant experience and skills, and/or a shortage of immediate personnel capabilities requires such.

    requirements

    • Master’s or PhD degree (or equivalent) in the social sciences, economics, statistics, geography or other relevant field(s).
    • Proven experience in statistical analysis and validation of both qualitative and quantitative data.
    • Proficiency in statistical software and data visualization tools.
    • Strong background in qualitative research methodologies.
    • Fluency in English and strong communication and writing skills; proficiency in other languages is advantageous.
    • Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in conducting in-depth interviews and facilitating collaborative workshops
    • An understanding of the literature regarding current issues related to disaster risk management systems, climate change and resilience within a development context is highly desirable.
    • IIASA offers an interdisciplinary and international workplace, and the possibility to interact with researchers of different nationalities, with strong ties to a world-wide network of research institutions engaged in environmental systems research. The successful candidate must be able to work in, and have respect for, an intercultural environment, and IIASA core values.

      appointment terms

      The selected candidate should be available to take up the position as soon as possible in 2024. We offer an initial fixed-term, full-time (40 hours per week) employment contract for one year with possibility for extension thereafter. Eligible applicants wishing to work part-time hours will also be considered.

      📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

      ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

      The selected candidates could carry out the research as part of a PhD thesis or post doc work.

      Duties will be carried out at the IIASA premises in Laxenburg, near Vienna in Austria.

      The successful candidate will be appointed in accordance with the IIASA profiles for research careers.

      WE OFFER

      • The possibility to contribute to environmental sciences for sustainability and global wellbeing.
      • The opportunity to deepen and improve knowledge and scientific profile.
      • Career development perspectives.
      • An attractive salary which is exempt from income tax in Austria and negotiable, based on the qualifications, skills and experience of the selected individual and at least:
      • EUR 51,894.00 (full-time) for R2 research scholars
    • EUR 39,825.00 (full-time) for R1 researchers.

      IIASA salaries are:

    • Subject to deductions for health insurance and/or social security.
    • Not directly comparable with other employers in Austria, due to the unique legal status and privileges granted to IIASA.
    • Subject to the principle of income aggregation (Progressionsvorbehalt in German).

      OTHER BENEFITS:

    • Educational subsidies for children of school age enrolled in private schools in Austria.
  • A generous annual leave entitlement.
• Relocation allowances and paid home leave for employees in scientific and professional categories hired from international locations.

Further details here.

About IIASA

IIASA is committed to a working environment that promotes equality, diversity, tolerance and inclusion within its workforce. This is reflected in our IIASA core values. We encourage qualified candidates from all religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds to apply. In the case that candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to applicants from countries where IIASA has a Member Organization.

Further Information

For further information about this opportunity please contact:

Jung Hee Hyun or Reinhard Mechler (mechler@iiasa.ac.at)

For general information about working at IIASA, please contact:
recruitment@iiasa.ac.at

Applications

To apply for this opportunity, you will need to provide the following documents in English: