Research Associate

The goal of the Water Institute is to address domestic and global water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges by:
– Providing the evidence base for action – by assessing he health, economic, and security impacts of water, sanitation, and hygiene related challenges.
– Developing solutions – through scientific research, technical innovation, and policy analysis.
– Ensuring that solutions can work at scale – through in-field monitoring, evaluation, and learning test our solutions to ensure they can deliver the intended results where the problems exist.
– Promoting broad adaption of evidence-based solutions that work – through direct engagement with policymakers and in national, regional and international policy fora.

In support of the four workstreams defined above, the incumbent will lead the development and implementation of a research portfolio focused on environmental health in health care facilities; monitoring, evaluation, and learning in WaSH; and water supply resilience. The incumbent will also lead the integration of economic analysis across the entire range of Water Institute programs and support other leadership, partnership development, and representational work by the Water Institute. This will include defining overall mission goals and objectives; grant writing and submission; building, managing, and co-directing teams to develop and implement research projects in the areas above; staff training; supervision of projects and field activities; data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation; and participation in report and scientific manuscript preparation. The incumbent will support and manage research assistants, undergraduate students, and graduate students in the execution of these activities.

– Completion of a doctoral degree in environmental health sciences, environmental engineering, economics and/or a related field

– Minimum of four years post-doctoral / professional experience in the focus areas of the research specified.
– Minimum of two years of experience in project/program development, training, mentoring and supervision of researchers, including graduate and undergraduate students in environmental health sciences.
– Thorough knowledge of, and demonstrated expertise in, systematic reviews, life cycle costing, statistical data analysis, impact evaluation, implementation science, and qualitative analysis.
– Project management experience, including overseeing field work in international settings, that includes recruitment, training, and scheduling of work for field staff.
– Record of successful applications for funding opportunities.
– Record of scholarly publications in WaSH, global environmental health, public health engineering, and/or WaSH in health care facilities.
– Record of scientific presentations at international, national and local scientific conferences, workshops and symposia on WaSH, public health engineering, and related fields.
– Ability to plan and supervise the work of others and to present information effectively orally and in writing.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

Inclusive Excellence is a core value at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. We expect our faculty and staff to actively contribute to fostering an academic workplace climate that is welcoming and supportive for all.
Please indicate in your cover letter how you might contribute to an inclusive climate at Gillings.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to [email protected]
Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.