Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, United Nations University International Institute for Global Health, KL, Malaysia

Application deadline: October 19, 2020

About UNU-IIGH

The United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the UNU system. UNU-IIGH was established in 2005 with the mission to advance evidence-based policy on key issues related to sustainable development and global health. UNU-IIGH aims to build knowledge and capacity for decision making by UN agencies, UN programmes, and Member States towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

As a neutral convener, and leveraging its position within the UN, UNU-IIGH works with a network of academic, policy and civil society experts to serve as a platform for critical thinking and exchange of knowledge and tools for policy influence and consensus-building.

Responsibilities

Postdoctoral Fellows at UNU-IIGH are within five (5) years of graduation with a PhD or Professional Doctorate. The Postdoctoral Fellowship provides fellows the opportunity to expand their career beyond the academic research environment to engage with policy application, translation, and dissemination. UNU-IIGH offers an excellent multicultural environment for interaction with scholars from different countries and diverse educational backgrounds.

The 2019-2023 Strategy for UNU-IIGH shifts the institute’s body of work from investigator-driven global health projects to priority-driven, policy-relevant pillars of work. The institute’s mission is to build knowledge and capacity for decision making by UN agencies, UN programmes, and Member States about global health issues. The goal of UNU-IIGH is to advance evidence-based policymaking on crucial issues related to sustainable development and public health. The strategy is implemented through three pillars of work:

1. Translating evidence into policy
2. Generating policy-relevant analysis related to gender and health
3. Strengthening capacity for local decision making

As part of this work, the institute is launching a Gender & Health Policy Hub to provide a platform for collaboration, practice-based learning, and co-production of critical analyses and evidence, as well as broker new partnerships and alliances to extend the sources of evidence and support dissemination and policy translation.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship is open to candidates who demonstrate that they can contribute to this programme of work. Furthermore, candidates will be given the opportunity and are expected to lead to specific areas of work.

Required qualifications and experience

Required qualifications and experience include:

• applicants must be within five (5) years of completion of a PhD in public health or a related discipline
• professional experience in public health research, policy, or programming
• familiarity with gender-responsive research and/or programming
• familiarity with systematic approaches to searching and evaluating scientific literature
• demonstrated experience in research design
• proven experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research techniques
• experience with policy relevant research, including formulating policy-relevant research questions, undertaking policy analysis, and writing policy briefs
• an analytical approach to defining policy-relevant research questions
• demonstrated ability in conducting data analysis and interpretation
• experience in writing peer-reviewed manuscripts
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• excellent time management skills

Other desirable skills:

• experience in working on interdisciplinary research projects
• experience in publishing in peer-reviewed journals
• experience in writing grant applications
• experience in writing progress reports
• experience in implementing research and/or health policy and systems research

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

We recommend that applicants review the information on how to apply for jobs with the UN to assist with the submission of a competitive application.

Remuneration

This is employment under a Personnel Service Agreement contract (PSA) with a monthly tax-exempted (in Malaysia) remuneration of USD 3,028.92. The successful candidate will not hold international civil servant status nor be a ‘staff member’ as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. No relocation allowance applies.

This position carries an annual leave entitlement of 2.5 working days per month (a total of 30 days of paid annual leave), and private health insurance coverage.

Duration of contract

This is full-time employment. The period of initial contract will be for 12 months, which can be extended for an additional 12-month period.

Starting date

As soon as possible.

Application Procedure: HERE.

Source / Information: Official Website.