Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in Addressing Intersecting Crises: Climate, Housing and Compounding Health Vulnerabilities for Senior Tenants

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

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The expected salary range is $60,000 - $65,000 per annum.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in Addressing Intersecting Crises: Climate, Housing and Compounding Health Vulnerabilities for Senior Tenants

Project Summary: In cities around the world, the uneven impacts of climate change-induced extreme events such as heatwaves and wildfires are acutely felt indoors. Research on indoor environmental quality is emerging but often overlooks the social, political, and legal determinants of the built environment and health. An important co-determinant of health is housing. In many cities, housing is increasingly unaffordable and unfit for a changing climate. Tenants are left sacrificing safety for affordability because the buildings least prepared for climate change are often the most affordable. Tenants have little control over their units and cannot easily access adaptation measures. Senior tenants who are low-income, disabled, and/or racialized are particularly vulnerable - compounding their compromised physiological response to environmental threats. Governments have introduced programs to increase access to cooling (e.g., retrofits, free air conditioners). But if not accompanied by proper tenant protections, these initiatives could lead to displacement or rent hikes, meaning that adaptation and mitigation efforts could create unintended negative and inequitable outcomes for health and living standards.

We strategically combine the insights of environmental health and climate justice to study the indoor environments of senior tenants' homes and foster equitable climate action. This requires interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral research to measure and create livable thresholds, prototype justice-based interventions, monitor implications of new climate policies on housing, and support community-based climate resilience measures. In Barcelona, New York City, and Vancouver - three major coastal urban centres facing the intersecting crises of climate and housing - we will pursue four objectives:

1) Measure indoor environmental quality and its impact on health;

2) Implement and evaluate in-building communal 'climate safe' rooms;

3) Monitor the unintended outcomes of climate adaptation and mitigation policies on tenancy;

4) Identify mechanisms that may lead to climate-related rent increases or displacement.

Together, these initiatives provide environmental, health, and social data to 1) inform public discourse that propels adaptation and mitigation efforts without displacing or disempowering senior tenants, and 2) safeguard the right to secure, high-quality housing in the context of climate change especially for those facing environmental and social injustices.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Hosting unit and start date

The School of Kinesiology, housed in the Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position (full-time, two-year term appointment) in the area of 'Addressing Intersecting Crises: Climate, Housing, and Compounding Health Vulnerabilities for Senior Tenants.' The appointment is expected to begin on September 1, 2025.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Liv Yoon.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in social science with expertise in community engaged research / participatory methods / creative methods / visual methods or related. Student mentorship is expected.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position will include:

1) Develop and finalize the methodological and operational details of photovoice and other creative methodologies across multiple objectives of an interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral project on the intersections of housing and climate justice. Project is international with research sites in Vancouver, Barcelona, and New York; the subject position is based in Vancouver but will require some coordination / training for other cities.

2) Lead any required ethics amendments on creative methodologies. Documents that will need editing include, but are not limited to: consent form, information sheet, facilitation guide, interview/focus group questions.

3) Organize and lead operations on photovoice data collection, participant recruitment, training, and focus groups. Mentor and manage RAs who assist with such activities. Similar responsibilities would apply for the implementation of other creative methodologies and operations as appropriate.

4) Develop a Photovoice Guidance Document and/or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document that outlines procedures, methodologies, and strategies for our teams in New York and Barcelona. As part of this, you would lead virtual photovoice training sessions with relevant team members in Barcelona and New York and advise on their plans. You would also strategize how research teams across all three cities could "pool" their photovoice data, and suggest/develop protocols, events, outputs, and/or forums for doing such.

5) Analyze data and develop potential publications related to photovoice and applied creative methodologies both independently and as a member of the broader NFRF team. Papers you lead on will be either single-author or lead author, as appropriate. Papers you collaborate more equally or consult on will be attributed according to the broader NFRF authorship document (forthcoming). Writing would be a central but not a primary aspect of your postdoc in Year One (especially months 0-6); this may shift in Year Two once data collection is well under way.

6) Prepare manuscripts related to photovoice components, which would include preparation, operation, execution, and publication preparation.

7) Assist with other aspects of research and knowledge mobilization where time allows and as needed based on shifting priorities of community partners and research team (analysis, consultation, research design).

8) Research and apply for additional funding (1 day a week / 8 hours a week).

Qualifications

• Candidates must hold a PhD in a social science discipline (including, but not limited to, socio-cultural streams of kinesiology) obtained within the last 5 years,
• Applicants should have a strong research background, as demonstrated by past publications, accomplishments, and references.
• Applicants with prior experience in community-based research, participatory methods, visual and creative methods is an asset.
• Creative methodological and knowledge mobilization expertise within an interdisciplinary research project is an asset.

Supervision received

You will work closely with Drs. Liv Yoon (UBC), Rafi Arefin (UBC), Sarah Koch (ISGlobal / University of Basel), Kendra Jewell (UBC), and other members of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) team and the UBC Centre for Climate Justice (CCJ) - namely, Geraldine Pratt and Naomi Klein.

Supervision given

You will also work with undergraduate and graduate student research assistants under your leadership for Objectives 2 and 4.

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You would also liaise with relevant community partners, including tenant advocacy organizations, senior networks and housing collectives (at minimum).

Work Location:

The primary work location is the UBC Vancouver Campus.

Application Process:

Seeking full-time PDF for 24 months with the possibility of extension.

Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2025.

Interested applicants are asked to include in your application:

• A CV listing research experience, publications, teaching, community ties, and extra-curricular activities.
• Cover Letter (2 pages max) detailing prior research, education, interest, and skills that speak to applicant's ability to participate in the project and assume the responsibilities as listed above
• Name and contact information for three referees. (academic, community, or other)
• Please indicate your legal status to work in Canada.

The complete application file must be submitted in the format of one bookmarked PDF file, addressed to Dr. Liv Yoon, School of Kinesiology, and sent electronically to kin.hr@ubc.ca by the application review date (March 7, 2025). Please include this subject heading: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position.

We respectfully acknowledge that the UBC Vancouver campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.