United Nations University,Research Officer Jobs in Malaysia

POSITION:
Personnel Service Agreement
REFERENCE
NO.: 2016/UNU/IIGH/PSA/RO/24
LOCATION:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Timezone:
UTC +8
CLOSING
DATE: Open until position is filled
Organizational
Unit: UNU Internatio

nal Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH)

United
Nations University objectives
The
United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars
engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and capacity development, and
dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the
Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through
research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global
problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
UNU
International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH)
UNU-IIGH
undertakes research, teaching and capacity development, and dissemination of
knowledge related to key issues of human health. It aims to contribute to the
development and strengthening of health policy frameworks and management
actions, particularly for people in developing countries, and to support
implementation of promotive and preventive approaches to human health. UNU-IIGH
embraces an ecosocial view of health that recognises its origins in ecological,
economic, and social contextual factors, and adopts a systems approach to
understanding and addressing health challenges.
For
more information please visit http://iigh.unu.edu.
Cardiff
University, Sustainable Places Research Institute (CU-PLACE)
Founded
in 2010, CU-PLACE is an internationally recognised multidisciplinary research
institute which progresses sustainability science for more sustainable places.
It operates across all three colleges of Cardiff University, and brings
together leading researchers at Cardiff University in the environmental field
with a commitment to place-based solutions and innovation. As a key meeting
place for researchers and stakeholders, PLACE examines the interdependencies
and trade-offs between key resource sectors, such as energy, food, water, and
waste, while working with place-based community, business, environmental, and
governance interests to find solutions and adaptations to the challenges of
diminishing resources and a changing climate. See
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/sustainableplaces/.
Newton-Ungku
Omar Fund
On
5 December 2013, the UK Chancellor announced the creation of an Emerging Powers
Research and Innovation Fund of £375 million over 5 years to support science
and innovation partnerships with emerging powers. The fund forms part of the
UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment, and its primary focus is
to develop partner countries’ research and innovation capacity for long-term
sustainable growth. The fund covers three broad categories of activity: (i)
People: capacity building, people exchange and joint centres; (ii) Programmes:
research collaborations on development topics; and (iii) Translation:
innovation partnerships. Under the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund in Malaysia, the
British Council, as one of several UK delivery partners working with the Higher
Education International Unit, is aiming to run programmes in the ‘People’
strand of Newton, in partnership with the Malaysian Industry-Government Group
for High Technology (MIGHT) as part of the Science to Action (S2A) initiative
undertaken by the Government of Malaysia.
Project:
Systems Thinking and Place-based Methods for Healthier Malaysian Cities
Cities
are now the dominant human habitat, with more influence than ever on economies,
environments, and health. Despite progress, intractable urban health problems
persist, often the unintended consequences of decisions in other sectors. These
problems carry substantial costs and are unevenly distributed. Unravelling
urban complexity requires systems approaches grounded in a social-ecological
understanding of health. In illuminating linkages between health and physical
and social environments, such work can lead to healthier, greener, more
equitable cities.
This
project is funded by Newton-Ungku Omar Fund and joins partners with expertise
in systems and place-based methods, urban planning, and public health to
examine urban health in Malaysia. It will apply such methods to catalyse and inform
urban decision-making for local health and environment goals, while developing
local research capacity. In particular, two workshops will focus on 1) green
infrastructure and 2) urban food as they relate to urban health.
The
research officer will contribute to workshops and other research-related
project goals during a one-year term, spending nine months at UNU-IIGH in Kuala
Lumpur and three months at CU-PLACE in Cardiff, Wales, UK. He or she will work
with and learn from global experts in urban health and sustainability, and gain
valuable connections to global and regional research and policy networks.
Responsibilities
Under
the authority and guidance of the Director of UNU-IIGH, and working under the
direct supervision of the Project Leads at UNU-IIGH and CU-PLACE, the Research
Officer will
  • Assist
    in planning, organising, and implementing a transdisciplinary workshop for
    about 30 researchers, policymakers, and urban practitioners.
  • Carry
    out original research using systems methods and/or place-based approaches
    in one of the project’s main themes (i.e., urban health in relation to
    either (1) green infrastructure or (2) food systems).
  • Attend
    project meetings and participate in institutional seminars at UNU-IIGH and
    CU-PLACE.
  • Contribute
    to the design of a website and other outreach tools for the project,
    including social media communications and media messages.
  • Design
    and use evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of transdisciplinary
    engagement during workshops and through other project activities.
  • Assist
    in the design and production of educational materials to promote the
    uptake of effective systems thinking and place-based strategies to improve
    urban health.
  • Publish
    findings in international peer-reviewed journals.
  • Produce
    a final report summarising project activities upon completion of term.
  • Perform
    other relevant duties as assigned.
Required
qualifications and experience
  • Completion
    of a doctoral-level degree in an area of research related to the project.
    Potential areas include, but are not limited to, public health, urban
    planning, epidemiology, nutrition, architecture, civil engineering,
    environmental studies, systems analysis, public policy, and governance.
  • Current
    knowledge of urban health research in relation to either green
    infrastructure, food systems, or related themes.
  • History
    of successful publication in international peer-reviewed journals.
  • Excellent
    communication skills in spoken and written English.
  • Strong
    interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a multicultural,
    multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
  • Ability
    to travel overseas (i.e., to the United Kingdom) for work.
Desirable
qualifications and experience
  • Prior
    work experience in an international organisation.
  • Experience
    in planning and organising events and/or multidisciplinary workshops.
  • Familiarity
    with website design and management.
  • Graphic
    design skills.
  • Experience
    with social media outreach.
  • Experience
    with designing and developing teaching materials.
Remuneration
Remuneration
will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Duration
of contract
This
contract is for full-time employment for a fixed term of 12 months on a
Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) with the United Nations University. The
combined duration of appointments under a PSA shall not exceed six (6) years.
This
is a locally recruited post; no relocation allowance applies. Eligibility is
limited to Malaysian citizens. The successful candidate will be employed under
a local contract and will not hold international civil servant status nor be a
‘staff member’ as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations. Suitably
qualified female applicants are particularly encouraged to apply.
Starting
date
This
post is available from 1 May 2016.
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