Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health: Canada

PhD or MS student in Stormwater Hydrology, University of Maryland College Park

Requesting applications for a PhD student to participate in an interdisciplinary project entitled "Sustainable Community Oriented Stormwater Management (S-COSM): A Sensible Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay" sponsored by the EPA-STAR program. Outstanding M.S. candidates may also be considered. Research will focus on identifying water pollution in spatially variable urban environments and the development of a diagnostic decision support system to better prescribe effective management. Work will involve using process-based biodynamic hydrologic models to evaluate responses of urban areas to environmental stressors, but also integrate social, economic, and human health data collected by other project participants into the decision support system. The successful applicant will need a desire to consider their specific research within the broader framework of social and environmental sustainability, and clearly demonstrate interdisciplinary skills. The student will be based in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, but work closely with Co-PIs in Departments of Bioengineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, and the School of Public Health. Applicants will also work closely with community partners given a strong community-based participatory research component to this project.
Applicants must have a M.S. in hydrology, engineering, computer modeling or relevant field. Requirements also include: a) demonstrated experience using SWAT and SUSTAIN tools of the EPA BASINS framework; b) demonstrated superior written (e.g., publications) and oral (e.g., presentations) communication skills; and c) demonstrated ability to be a committed team player. A start date of Spring, 2013 is the target. However, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
To apply, please send the following to the email address below: (1) Curriculum Vitae, (2) statement of research interests (1 pg), and (3) names and contact information of two references familiar with your research abilities. These application materials should be sent and addressed to Dr. Paul Leisnham (Leisnham@umd.edu) in the Dept. of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland. Paul Leisnham will be attending the upcoming Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Portland, Or, and will be available to talk about the position with potential applicants.
Paul Leisnham, Ph.D.
 
Assistant Professor of Ecology and Health
University of Maryland
Department of Environmental Science & Technology
1443 Animal Sciences (Bldg 142)
College Park, Maryland 20742-2315
301.405.8569 TEL 301.314.9023 FAX

http://www.enst.umd.edu/People/Leisnham/index.cfm

PhD or MS student in Mosquito Ecology, University of Maryland College Park

Requesting applications for a PhD student to participate in an interdisciplinary project entitled "Urban disamenities and pests: Coupled dynamics of urban mosquito ecology and human systems across socio-economically diverse communities" funded through a NSF Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) grant. Outstanding M.S. candidates may also be considered. Research will investigate ecological factors regulating communities of disease-vector and pest mosquitoes in Baltimore, MD using surveys, experimental manipulations, and modeling. Ecological data and findings will be integrated with data collected on upstream social factors and human health. The student will be based in the Ecology and Health Lab at the University of Maryland under the supervision of Dr. Paul Leisnham, but work closely with four other PIs with expertise in ecology, social sciences, and public health from UMD and other institutions. Research will also involve close collaboration with partners within urban communities, postdocs and other graduate students.
Applicants must have a MS in biology, ecology, or relevant field. Requirements also include: a) familiarity with aquatic insect communities, urban ecosystems, and/or integrated pest management; b) knowledge of experimental methods in ecology; c) strong background in experimental design and statistical techniques, and experience with SAS or R; d) demonstrated superior written (e.g., publications) and oral (e.g., presentations) communication skills; and e) demonstrated ability to be a committed team player. A start date of Spring, 2013 is the target. However, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
To apply, please send the following to the email address below: (1) Curriculum Vitae, (2) statement of research interests (1 pg), and (3) names and contact information of two references familiar with your research abilities. These application materials should be sent and addressed to Dr. Paul Leisnham (leisnham@umd.edu) in the Dept. of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland. Paul Leisnham will be attending the upcoming Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Portland, Or, and will be available to talk about the position with potential applicants.
Paul Leisnham, Ph.D.
 
Assistant Professor of Ecology and Health
University of Maryland
Department of Environmental Science & Technology
1443 Animal Sciences (Bldg 142)
College Park, Maryland 20742-2315
301.405.8569 TEL 301.314.9023 FAX

http://www.enst.umd.edu/People/Leisnham/index.cfm

JOB: Conservation Medicine Internship

Conservation Medicine Internship

 

Position: Sept 2012 – (open)

 

Location: EcoHealth Alliance, NY,NY.

 

Seeking: Masters or PhD-level intern with strong interest in international disease ecology research and policy.

 

 

Description: Intern will work under the supervision of with Dr. Epstein under EHA’s Nipah virus ecology program and the One Health Alliance of South Asia. The intern will participate in data analysis, and manuscript writing related to Nipah virus and other infectious disease research programs. Thee candidate will also assist in program development and coordination under the One Health Alliance of South Asia and PREDICT programs. This position requires strong quantitative skills, specifically in epibiostatistics, familiarity with R programming language, and proficiency working with large data sets. Successful candidates must also have excellent organizational and written and oral communication skills, as the position will involve outreach to international collaborators and assistance in coordinating international activities for the One Health Alliance of South Asia. The internship also involves participation in regular scientific meetings within the organization, contribution to discussions and program development.  

 

Minimum 12 hours/week. Full - time preferred

 

Email a resume and C.V. to intern@ecohealthalliance.org .

JOB POSTING FOR DISTRIBUTION: UNRRA CURRENT JOBS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

FYI. UNRRA CURRENT JOBS OPENING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
See attached.
Download UNRRA_JOBS_OPENING.pdf

JOB: Research Award Opportunity at IDRC's Evaluation Unit

The International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC’s) Evaluation Research Award position is an exciting and unique opportunity to work with a leading organization in the field of international development evaluation.
 
Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing master’s or doctoral studies at a recognized university or having completed a master’s or doctoral program at a recognized university are eligible to apply. Application deadline is September 12, 2012.
 
The Evaluation Research Award is designed to provide hands-on learning experiences and skills development. The Research Awardee will undertake an evaluation or research project and will contribute to the work of the Evaluation Unit under the mentorship of Program Officers or the Director. IDRC’s Evaluation Unit promotes the use of numerous evaluation models, methods and theories and is seeking a Research Awardee who is knowledgeable of the evaluation field and interested in current evaluation developments and innovations.
 
To learn more about this opportunity, please visit our IDRC Research Awards Competitions website.
http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Funding/Competitions/Pages/CompetitionDetails.aspx?CompetitionID=36

 

Writing Nature - CFP - PhD course (Oslo, 29 October - 2 November 2012)

What happens when scholars in the social sciences and humanities decide to
take nature into account in their studies? For years the debate has been
waging: Is it doable? Is it desirable? What are the philosophical, not to
say, academic and political consequences? Should we give up on our
treasured "social sphere" and "culture" as our objects and realms of study?
The academic debates are many and have sometimes been fierce.

This one week PhD-course "Writing Nature" will certainly not avoid such
debates. However, dwelling on these debates are not the main objective of
this one weeks course at the University of Oslo. Our point of departure is
rather that scholars and traditions within the humanities and the social
sciences are already engaged in "writing nature"; in taking nature-objects,
non-humans as well as human bodies into account in our studies. And this of
course, has been going on for a long time already.

Traditions of the humanities and social sciences are constantly being
engaged in performing environmental change. Scholars within the humanities
and the social sciences are constantly being asked for and invited to take
part in exploring how we are to manage nature-objects and exploring
nature-issues.

- How do we "write nature" without reducing nature to the social? - How is
nature being taking into account - in our own ways of writing and in the
practices of the actors that are our objects of study? - How, - by way of
which scholarly traditions, concepts, inspirations do we approach and
describe nature-objects? - How do we attend to and get attached to
nature-objects? - How do we, and how have we, narrate(d), govern(ed) and
time(d) bodies? - How are bodies of nature done - in politics - knowledge
practices and in everyday life - and by which technologies and means?

These are the core questions of the PhD-course at the University of Oslo.
We invite papers engaged in exploring human nature as well as "green"
nature - and papers engaged in topics ranging from reproductive medicine to
the managing of nature-objects in politics and administration.

The course will be taught by prominent and engaged lecturers:
Bruno Latour (Paris)
Dorthe Gert Simonsen and Tine Damsholt (Copenhagen)
Anne Kveim Lie (Oslo)
Helge Jordheim (Oslo)
Kristin Asdal (Oslo).

*How to apply for participation?*

E-mail to Beate Trandem (beatet@ilos.uio.no) with maximum 1 page
description of your project, topic of the paper you intend to present, as
well as your affiliation and motivation for taking part in this event.
*Deadline: August 15, 2012.*

Website:

http://www.uio.no/kultrans/aktuelt/arrangementer/2012/natur/writing-nature.html

Playground Accessibility and Neighbourhood Social Interaction Among Parents

While the positive association between social interaction and access to green space (in a broad sense) is well accepted, little research has sought to understand how different forms of green space - such as sports fields, playgrounds and community gardens- facilitate social interaction within a community.

http://www.cehe.ca/playgroundaccessibility

JOB - Tenure-track position in Environmental Justice @ Concordia University

>> Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University,
>> Montreal
>>
>> The Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia
>> University in Montreal, Quebec, invites applications for a tenure-track
>> position in Environmental Justice. The Department defines environmental
>> justice quite broadly and encourages applications from those working on
>> critical environmental studies in urban and/or rural settings. The research
>> specialization may include gender perspectives, environmental law,
>> environmental risk assessment, community organization in relation to
>> environmental change, food security, urban health and well-being,
>> demography, limits to growth, or resource management. The successful
>> applicant will be expected to play a major role in two recently developed
>> and rapidly-growing graduate programs in Environmental Assessment. A PhD or
>> ABD is required.
>>
>> Applications must consist of a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae,
>> copies of recent publications, a statement of teaching philosophy/interests,
>> a statement of research achievements, and evidence of teaching
>> effectiveness. Candidates must also arrange to have three letters of
>> reference sent directly to:
>>
>> Dr. David Greene, Chair, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
>> greene@alcor.concordia.ca
>> http://gpe.concordia.ca/
>>
>> Subject to budgetary approval, we anticipate filling this position, normally
>> at the rank of Assistant Professor, for July 1, 2013. All applications
>> should reach the department no later than November 1, 2012. All inquiries
>> about the position should be directed to Dr. Greene. For
>> additional information, please visit our website at
>> artsandscience.concordia.ca.

Tenure-track position in Environmental Justice @ Concordia University

> Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University,
> Montreal
>
> The Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia
> University in Montreal, Quebec, invites applications for a tenure-track
> position in Environmental Justice. The Department defines environmental
> justice quite broadly and encourages applications from those working on
> critical environmental studies in urban and/or rural settings. The research
> specialization may include gender perspectives, environmental law,
> environmental risk assessment, community organization in relation to
> environmental change, food security, urban health and well-being,
> demography, limits to growth, or resource management. The successful
> applicant will be expected to play a major role in two recently developed
> and rapidly-growing graduate programs in Environmental Assessment. A PhD or
> ABD is required.
>
> Applications must consist of a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae,
> copies of recent publications, a statement of teaching philosophy/interests,
> a statement of research achievements, and evidence of teaching
> effectiveness. Candidates must also arrange to have three letters of
> reference sent directly to:
>
> Dr. David Greene, Chair, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
> greene@alcor.concordia.ca
> http://gpe.concordia.ca/
>
> Subject to budgetary approval, we anticipate filling this position, normally
> at the rank of Assistant Professor, for July 1, 2013. All applications
> should reach the department no later than November 1, 2012. All inquiries
> about the position should be directed to Dr. Greene. For
> additional information, please visit our website at
> artsandscience.concordia.ca.

Call for papers: From Healthy Workers to a Healthy Planet: Reflections based on AJ (Tony) McMichael’s four decades of contribution to epidemiological understanding

Call for papersFrom Healthy Workers to a Healthy Planet: Reflections based on AJ (Tony) McMichael’s four decades of contribution to epidemiological understandingEditors: Colin D Butler, Jane Dixon, Anthony G Capon
Publisher: ANU E PressCall for papersWe are calling for manuscripts to reflect on and complement the career and seminal epidemiological contributions led and inspired by Professor Tony McMichael. The best contributions will be published in a book provisionally called “From Healthy Workers to a Healthy Planet: Reflections based on AJ (Tony) McMichael’s four decades of contribution to epidemiological understanding”. Contributions are called for in one of six themes (occupational health, tobacco and cancer, nutrition, and old, new and future opportunities and threats to environmental health.) We especially welcome submissions that reflect upon ecological aspects of health, including climate, biodiversity and social change. Other proposals may also be considered. All chapters are expected to be scholarly and will be reviewed, in the first instance, by the editors. The publisher will then peer review all chapters. Contributions from early career scholars are particularly welcomed. Please send an abstract of no more than one page, in the first instance, to the editors. Chapter length: 2,000-4,000 words; maximum 40 references plus up to 3 colour figures and two tables. Short articles (maximum 1000 words) will also be considered.TimelinesDecember 1, 2012: submissions due
March 2013: feedback to authors
May 2013: final version
December 2013: publication date.Enquiries and submissionsA/Prof Colin Butler
A/Prof Jane Dixon
Prof Tony CaponBackgroundSince at least the time of John Snow, followed by Ronald Ross, epidemiologists have been at the forefront in assembling evidence and then advocating for social change in order to protect and improve population health. Despite the enormous improvement in living standards and life expectancy in recent decades, new threats have emerged to health of global significance. Epidemiology remains essential, as do leaders in that field.One such leading epidemiologist is Professor AJ McMichael. Highlights of his work include in occupational health (the “healthy worker effect”), nutrition, tobacco and cancer. Tony has been especially prominent in environmental epidemiology, with seminal contributions to understanding the health impacts of long-recognised pollutants such as lead, and new contaminants and threats such as greenhouse gases and ecological destruction. He has also been a leader in systemic approaches to public health, for example his paper “Prisoners of the Proximate” and books such as Planetary Overload and The LS factor (Hetzel and McMichael).This book, divided into these themes, combines some of McMichael’s key papers with commentaries and contributions by leading and emerging public health figures. This unique publication will be more than historical record. We hope that it will also provide an opportunity for readers, to appreciate the life and times of a leading contemporary figure in public health. It should also foster greater understanding of these themes of crucial importance to contemporary public health, even among readers broadly familiar with them.Editors detailsColin Butler: Associate Professor, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU, (2008-present) Medical graduate (1987), DTM&H (1990), MSc (1996), PhD (ANU, 2002); academic appointments: 2002-present (mostly at ANU), ARC Future Fellow (2011-2015); co-founder and medical director, Benevolent Organisation for Development, Health and Insight [BODHI], 1989-present; Publications: 1 edited book in preparation, 1 co-edited book; almost 100 papers and chapters; co-editor EcoHealth (since 2010)Jane Dixon: Associate Professor, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health ANU; BA (Soc Wk) (1980), MSW (1990), PhD (2000); co-founder of the International Society for Equity in Health (2000) and Australia 21 (2001). Publication summary: 1 sole authored book, 1 co-authored book, 3 co-edited books, more than 100 papers, book chapters and reports; co-editor of 5 special issues of national and international journals; editorial board International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food. Co-chair of the ANU Colleges of Science E-Press Committee.Tony Capon: Foundation Professor of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia(2011-present) Medical graduate (1983), PhD (UQ, 1989), FAFPHM (1991); academic appointments: 2011-present – Head, Discipline of Public Health, University of Canberra, 2008-2011 – Professor of Population Health, Australian National University, 2006-2008 – Consultant in Urban Health Policy, University of Sydney; 1991-2006 – Director of Public Health, Sydney West Area Health Service. Publication summary: more than 90 papers, reports and book chapters; co-editor for 5 special issues of national and international journals.