We invite applications for a fully funded PhD position in Participatory Environmental Health Research to work on an interdisciplinary research project at the forefront of environmental exposome research.
The candidate will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team working on a participatory citizen science approach to environmental health research. This position will integrate human biomonitoring, multi-omics data, and risk assessment approaches to assess the impact of environmental pollutants on public health and to co-create actionable solutions through engagement with local communities, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The research directly aims to translate scientific findings into practical interventions that improve urban health and reduce the environmental burden of disease.
Research Focus:
As part of this PhD project, the candidate will contribute to key areas of environmental exposome research with an emphasis on participatory approaches:
- Environmental Exposure Assessment: Measuring and assessing environmental stressors like air pollutants, noise, and light in urban settings, with a focus on participatory data collection from local communities using wearable sensors and mobile technology.
- Citizen Science Integration: Collaborating with local communities to engage citizens in data collection, exposure monitoring, and health assessments. The project integrates citizen science to increase public awareness and foster behavioral changes that can reduce environmental health risks.
- Biomarker data integration: Identifying and interpreting early response biomarkers associated with environmental exposures and their links to diseases like CVD, RD, and MHD.
- Co-creation of Interventions: Working with diverse stakeholders to design and implement cost-effective, community-driven interventions to address urban pollution, focusing on sustainable solutions to health challenges.
- Data Integration: Utilizing advanced computational tools to integrate environmental, social, and health data in a collaborative, interdisciplinary framework to predict the long-term health outcomes of exposure to environmental stressors.
This project aligns with the broader ENVESOME initiative, aiming to promote public health protection through scientific evidence and participatory decision-making.
Candidate Profile:
We are looking for a motivated, interdisciplinary student with the following qualifications:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental sciences, public health, epidemiology, or a related field.
- Strong interest in environmental health, epidemiology, and citizen science, particularly in the context of community engagement and participatory research.
- Experience or strong willingness to work with citizen science initiatives and engage with local communities to collect environmental and health data.
- Proficiency in data analysis (experience with statistical modelling or machine learning is a plus).
- An ability to work both independently and in collaborative, interdisciplinary teams.
- Excellent written and spoken English (knowledge of Slovenian is an advantage but not required).
- Prior research experience in human biomonitoring, exposure science, or health risk assessment is beneficial but not mandatory.
Project Benefits:
- Be part of an interdisciplinary research team that includes experts in environmental science, epidemiology, bioinformatics, and social sciences.
- Gain expertise in human biomonitoring, molecular biology and metabolomics, and participatory research methods.
- Contribute to citizen science initiatives that engage local communities and empower them to take action against environmental health risks.
- Access cutting-edge research facilities and work on high-impact projects with potential for policy translation.
- Opportunity to present findings at international conferences and publish in high-impact journals.
- Competitive salary and funding for research activities.
Application Process:
JSI | Call for tenders for candidates for young researchers
About the Jožef Stefan Institute:
The PhD candidate will work within the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia’s leading research institution in the fields of natural and applied sciences. Renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, the Institute offers a dynamic research environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities and international research networks. As part of its commitment to advancing environmental health research, the Institute supports cutting-edge projects such as ENVESOME, which integrate participatory research and scientific inquiry to address environmental health challenges. For more information visit their official website at www.environment.si
Join us in advancing environmental health research, engaging communities, and shaping future public health policies!