Evidence Synthesis Specialist (Postdoc) (m/f/d)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world’s leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

For the research groups "Evidence for Climate Solutions“ (RD5 – Climate Economics and Policy) and "Climate Change and Health" (RD2 – Climate Resilience), we are offering an exciting opportunity to be part of a boundary-shifting project on AI-powered Digital Evidence Synthesis Tools (DESTs) for Climate and Health that aims to make rigorous evidence-based policy advice faster, cheaper, more useful and living. We are offering a joint position as Evidence Synthesis Specialist (Postdoc) (m/f/d) (Position number: 79-2024 Postdoc Evidence) in the field of Climate Change and Human Health, starting ideally on 01.03.2025.

The position is funded for three years (36 months) with a potential further extension. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13. This is a full-time position with a weekly working time of 40 hours per week. The position can be filled on a part-time basis.

The position is situated in the boundary-shifting project “Digital Evidence Synthesis Tool Innovation Yielding Improvements in Climate & Health” (DESTINY) funded by the Wellcome Trust. DESTINY will leverage the most recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) to co-develop a new generation of digital evidence synthesis tools (DESTs) and showcase their transformational power for the delivery of rigorous living evidence in climate and health that matters to policymakers and other evidence users. In DESTINY, PIK is leading an eclectic international consortium involving the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the EPPI-Centre (UCL), Future Evidence Foundation, the African Synthesis Centre for Climate Change, Environment and Development (University of Cape Town), the African Centre for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES) as well as effective Basic Services (eBASE) Africa.

The position will contribute to the evidence synthesis work in the project, where we will test and apply our newly developed DESTs across living evidence impact cases that will fill in evidence synthesis gaps around pressing decision-problems in the field of climate and health. PIK will lead on two of the six impact cases envisioned within the scope of this project in close coordination with colleagues organizing the stakeholder relationship development and co-production work.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead two of six DESTINY living evidence impact cases in close liaison with the relevant other work packages;
• Conduct at least two evidence synthesis pieces – one living systematic map and one living systematic review / science assessment;
• Engage in co-production with external DESTINY partners such as the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition, WHO or IDRC in conducting the evidence synthesis work as well as in supporting related DEST development;
• Lead, write, and publish articles in peer-reviewed journals that highlight DESTINY findings and present them at international conferences;
• Help in liaising and maintaining communication with project donors and project partners, responding to information requests, preparing project progress reports and policy briefs as well as organizing internal and external project meetings/events;
• Supervise doctoral researchers and master students, depending on demand (optional).

Requirements:

• PhD within the broader field of climate and/or health science is required (for example, climate physics, global/public health, climate or health economics or other social sciences, information science, computational (social) science, or related fields with a quantitative and empirical orientation;
• Proven expertise in applying evidence synthesis methodologies (e.g. systematic reviews, systematic maps) is required. Experience in applying DESTs for accelerating and scaling evidence synthesis tasks is an advantage;
• Proven expertise in the field of climate and health is required, showing relevant empirical and analytical skills;
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills in English are required, and proficiency in other languages is an asset;
• Strong scientific writing skills with good track record according to scientific age of articles in peer- reviewed journals are required;
• Experience with interdisciplinary and multicultural teams is valuable;
• Experience in stakeholder engagement at the climate / health nexus is desirable.

We expect:

• the ability to work independently and on your own initiative; a methodical and systematic approach;
• structured and goal-oriented thinking;
• capacity to familiarise yourself quickly with new topics; creativity and openness to new approaches;
• reliability, engagement, and a high level of motivation; enthusiasm for teamwork.

We offer:

• the opportunity to take rewarded and visible responsibility in one of the most exciting projects for the future of evidence synthesis right now;
• the opportunity to work with an esteemed group of international scholars and key stakeholders on cutting-edge scientific questions with high societal relevance and the prospect of high-impact publications;
• the chance to be part of an engaged, interdisciplinary and multicultural team at PIK; guidance and supervision in career development;
• a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research institute situated at the Berlin offices of the modern EUREF Sustainability Campus in Berlin;
• flexi-time and mobile working (up to 50% of your hours);
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits as well as a subsidized travel card or Deutschland- Ticket Job.

PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. We also encourage you to apply even if you do not necessarily “tick all the boxes”. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 15.01.2025 directly via our application form below this job advertisement on our website.

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for- foreign-education.html.

For further information or to discuss the position, please contact Jan Minx or Amanda Wendt.

Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung e.V. (PIK),14473 Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany.