PhD Position under the framework of the project ‘Inclusive Health and Wellbeing in Small and Medium...

Predoctoral Researcher Position under the framework of the project ‘Inclusive Health and Wellbeing in Small and Medium Size Cities’ (IN-HABIT)

Potential Research Fields:Environmental Sciences, Social-Ecological Systems, Anthropology, Urban Planning and Architecture.

IN-HABIT is a H2020 project (https://www.inhabit-h2020.eu ) coordinated by the University of Cordoba aiming to foster Inclusive Health and Wellbeing in four cities (Cordoba, Riga, Lucca and Nitra). It aims to investigate how mobilizing resources around a core topic (culture, food, human-animal bonds, environment and art) and galvanize them through solutions that integrate cultural, digital, nature-based and social innovations might boost health and wellbeing. These innovations will be applied to the co-design, co-development and co-management of urban public spaces. The project has an important focus on the role of behaviour and mindset changes to foster wellbeing and healthier lifestyles and a new approach to systemic urban planning based on innovative gender and diversity approaches. IN-HABIT will base its actions on underserved areas and vulnerable target groups existing in each city, and on the integration of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ visionary solutions articulated around food (nurturing daily healthier lifestyles), heritage and culture (as a nexus for inclusive societies), animals (human-animal bonds as new relational urban goods) and art and environment (to connect places and people).

Research topic:

Effects of vegetation on direct climate mitigation and on indirect social and individual wellbeing in the city of Cordoba, South Spain.

Cordoba is a historical city characterized by a typical Mediterranean summer drought reaching, currently, maximum temperatures of >45°C. Patios are one of the most representative green elements of the city and might play a key role to address global challenges such as climatic change or pandemic situations. In the current scenario of increasing temperatures, a problem accentuated in urban Mediterranean areas, there is a need to create efficient urban ecosystems in which mechanical refrigeration is minimised, whilst providing increased comfort in both houses and public spaces. Patios have traditionally played this function. IN-HABIT will investigate how the co-creation and replication of patios in different city areas can boost inclusive health and wellbeing. Vegetation in urban planning, acting as green cells, can be a potential nature-based solution to directly mitigate summer temperatures and to indirectly boost wellbeing. Thus, the research project will lie down on environmental and social aspects related to urban vegetation in the oldtown, one of the biggest in Europe, and how green cells and people can be connected to reduce climatic vulnerability and heat island effect.

Position conditions:

• Duties will be carried out at the Universidad of Cordoba (Spain).
• Gross salary 1700 €/month, 37,5 h/week.
• The appointment period can be up to 3 years, with an evaluation every year.
• Start date: Early 2022.

Application submission:

Submit your application in English to María del Mar Delgado ([email protected] ) and José Luis Quero ([email protected] ) before 15th December 2021 including:

• Curriculum vitae with detailed presentation of professional and research activities.
• Language skills.
• Contact details of 2 referees.
• Brief explanation why you think you should be particularly suitable for this position (max. 1 page).

Please include INHABIT researcher position in your mail subject.

Selected candidates might be invited to an online interview.