Postdoctoral research scholar

Background and objectives

IIASA’s Program on Risk and Vulnerability (RAV) is offering a position for a Postdoctoral Research Scholar to carry out applied research within its externally funded project on Living with Landslide Risk in Europe.

The RAV Program is a partner on an EU integrated project, SafeLand, which focuses on identifying and quantifying landslide risks, primarily within Europe.

This work package incorporates four tasks:

-Carry out scoping studies of the policy issues, political culture and stakeholder views in five selected case study sites
-Development and testing of spatial multi-criteria evaluation for selected case sites
-Design and testing of a risk-communication strategy for selected case sites
-Design and test a participatory process based on technical and economic analyses for choosing an appropriate set of mitigation and prevention measures.

The objectives are to scope the policy risk management context and to develop and test a risk-communication and participatory stakeholder-led process for choosing prevention and mitigation measures that are appropriate from a technical, economic, environmental and social perspective, and to agree on risk reduction targets. The processes will rely on information on the risks, costs and benefits established in all research areas. It is envisaged that the tasks will be carried out at a case study site in Italy.

The successful candidate will work with IIASA staff and other partners in designing and carrying out the communication and participatory processes, most likely focusing on one or two sites in Italy (Amalfi coast and Alps).

Tasks

-Carry out scoping studies of two Italian landslide risk cases. These studies will be based on desktop research and interviews with relevant persons. They will document the political, legal, institutional and social context of the landslide risk case context and science-policy communication. The studies will be supervised by partners at Kings College London.
-Take a leading role in designing interview protocols and communication/participatory processes;
-Conduct interviews, administer questionnaires in case study areas; statistical analysis of results;
-Organize communication/participatory procedures, e.g. focus groups, workshops
-Take a leading role in writing deliverables, and (optional) in the preparation of published articles.
-Take a leading role in other dissemination media, e.g. web sites.

This position is based at IIASA in Laxenburg (near Vienna) but the successful candidate will be expected to spend time undertaking research in Italy.

Profile

-Applicants should have a recent PhD or equivalent in a relevant (preferably social science) subject and an understanding of the literature and current issues related to the sociology of science, communication and participatory processes, and (optional) natural disasters.
-Skills in both qualitative and quantitative methods are desirable. -Strong Italian and English communication and writing skills are essential.
-Refereed publications with respect to relevant topics will greatly enhance the application, as will experience in international projects.