Researcher-resilience analyst

The Systemic Risk and Resilience (SYRR) Research Group in the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program is offering an opportunity for a resilience analyst with expertise in decision-making aspects on disaster, climate risks and others sustainability challenges.

background

The mission of the SYRR group is to contribute to transforming the way societies manage risks in 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 foundations for the improved management and governance of disasters, climate change, as well as technological and ecological transitions. Our specialty is applying advanced hard and soft systems science methods for assessing and analyzing risks and uncertainties, and co-designing risk policy and governance processes to improve outcomes on global change issues.

The project

The successful applicant will join a transdisciplinary team to work on the EU funded DECIPHER project (DECIsion-making framework and Processes for Holistic Evaluation of enviRonmental and climate policies). DECIPHER’s international and interdisciplinary consortium will employ a systemic approach and use a diverse mix of economic models as well as social science methods to create an enhanced framework for robust, innovative, adaptive, and inclusive decision-making for informing climate, biodiversity, and sustainability policies across geographic scales.

main tasks and responsibilities

The successful applicant will work with the IIASA team and other partners in the DECIPHER project to lead the work on enriching empirical decision-making frameworks for improved forward-looking policy assessments that consider systemic risk, resilience and opportunity including through the examination of relevant processes, criteria, methods and metrics. Tasks will include, among others:

• Lead the review and development of conceptual guidance for improved socio-economic decision-making for informing public policy in the climate and environment policy domains,
• Co-lead the research on improved understanding of the impacts of disruptive events (such as associated with COVID-19, financial crises, disasters, technology etc.,) on environmental and sustainability-oriented decision-making.
• Co-lead the operationalization and application of the decision-making framework to relevant case applications,
• Publish (single and co-authored papers) in relevant journals/books and other media (e.g., press, internet),
• Present research results in international fora.
  • 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 economics, social sciences, statistics, geography or other relevant field(s).
    • Expertise in decision-making aspects with regard to disasters, climate change and other sustainability challenges.
    • Fluency in English and strong communication skills; proficiency in other languages is advantageous.
    • Experience contributing to the writing of scientific publications and excellent presentation skills.
      • 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 the 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!

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

        The successful candidates will be appointed as an R1 or R2 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 international atmosphere and pleasant working environment in a historic market town surrounded by green areas.
        • 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.
  • The possibility to work up to 100 days per year in home office (within Austria).
  • Assistance for newcomers to Austria with visa, work and residency permit applications.
• Support finding accommodation in Austria.

  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:

  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:

• A cover letter outlining your motivation for and fit to the position*
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae
• The names, addresses (including e-mail), and telephone numbers of two work-related reference givers
  Please do not send or include photographs in application materials. Deadline for receipt of applications: 4 January 2024