Postdoctoral Research Associate – Environmental Psychology

Environmenta; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Virginia seeks a Research Associate to join a project examining health and wellbeing benefits of green and grey infrastructure in Norfolk, VA. The role includes protocol development, IRB liaison, and longitudinal assessments to evaluate flood risk reduction and wellbeing outcomes.

The successful candidate will lead data analyses, disseminate findings through publications and conferences, and collaborate with community partners and a design/health center team.

Qualifications

• PhD in environmental psychology or related field by start date.
• Experience with SPSS/SAS/R programming.
• Experience recruiting and capturing self-report metrics outside lab.
• Experience in stress biometrics data capture and analysis (cortisol, heart rate).
• Strong project organization and ability to work independently and with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication for diverse audiences.
• Desirable: prior research on green infrastructure and health outcomes; longitudinal methods.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to study protocol and IRB processes.
• Coordinate with partners in Norfolk and community engagement team.
• Manage participant recruitment and longitudinal assessments.
• Lead data analyses and disseminate findings via publications and presentations.
• Prepare study publications and conference presentations.

Skills

SPSS

SAS

R

Biometrics analysis

Participant recruitment

Independent work

Communication skills

Education

PhD in environmental psychology (or related field)

Job description

The Research Associate will work with Professor Jenny Roe on a health and wellbeing benefits analysis of green (and grey) infrastructure co-designed with community residents in the city of Norfolk, Virginia to simultaneously reduce flood risk and enhance individual and community wellbeing. This will involve pre and post health assessment(s) of environmental intervention(s) in Norfolk designed to mitigate flood risk (for example, rain gardens and sustainable urban drainage systems). The post-doctoral Research Associate will contribute to the study protocol, liaise with key partners in Norfolk, assist with IRB processes, work with our community engagement team to manage participant recruitment, carry out longitudinal assessments using psychological and biometric measures, lead on data analyses and dissemination of project findings (e.g. writing of study publications and conference presentations).

Qualifications

• A PhD in environmental psychology, a related discipline in psychology, health geography or a related field by the start date of the appointment.
• Demonstrated programming and data management skills in statistical software programs (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R).
• Demonstrated experience in the recruitment and capture of self-report psychological metrics in real-world contexts outside of laboratory contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in the capture and data analyses of stress biometrics (e.g. cortisol, skin conductance, brain activity and heart rate).
• Demonstrated project organization skills.
• Demonstrated experience in working independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders from academia, community organizations, non-profit organizations and government.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for diverse audiences.

A history of prior research on the effects of green infrastructure on health and wellbeing outcomes is desirable alongside experience in longitudinal research methods and data analyses, and experience of supervising undergraduate / graduate research assistants.

This is a grant funded position offered for 3 years full time renewed annually contingent on successful annual performance review.

Work visa sponsorship is available for qualified candidates.

The optimal start date is August 2023 but this may be negotiable.

The selected applicant will be required to complete a background check and health assessment per university policy.

For questions about the position, contact Prof. Jenny Roe, Director of the Center for Design & Health, email: [e-mail]

For questions about the application process, please contact Rhiannon O’Coin, Senior Academic Recruiter, [e-mail]

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person’s perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.