The Barcelona Institute for General Health (ISGlobal) is a cutting-edge institute addressing global public health challenges through research, translation into policy and education. ISGlobal has a broad portfolio in communicable and non-communicable diseases including environmental and climate determinants, and applies a multidisciplinary scientific approach ranging from the molecular to the population level.

Research is organized in five programs: Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health; Environment and Health over the Lifecourse; Global Viral and Bacterial Infections; Malaria and Neglected Parasitic Diseases and Maternal Child and Reproductive Health. ISGlobal is accredited with the Severo Ochoa distinction, a seal of excellence of the Spanish Science Ministry.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR We are seeking a talented and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher in the areas of environmental epidemiology and climate change. The successful candidate will join the research team of Dr. Joan Ballester Claramunt at ISGlobal within the framework of various research projects, mainly the Horizon Europe project CATALYSE (see “Project information” below).

The chosen candidate will be at the forefront of environmental research by analysing a newly-created database of human health in Europe, which incorporates a range of environmental, socioeconomic and demographic variables and novel digital data streams at different spatiotemporal scales. See examples of recent high-impact publications here, here and here. The chosen candidate will develop impact-based early warning systems, following the approach and methodology of the first continental heat-health early warning system Forecaster.Health.

PROJECT INFORMATION CATALYSE (“Climate Action to Advance Healthy Societies in Europe”, Sep’22-Aug’27) is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-02-03),



whose overarching aim is to provide new knowledge, data, and tools on: i) the relationships between changes in environmental hazards caused by climate change, ecosystems, and human health; ii) the health co-benefits of climate action; iii) the role of health evidence in decision making; and iv) the societal implications of climate change for health systems. CATALYSE is developing innovative surveillance and forecasting tools that facilitate effective response to environmental health hazards, including a heat-health early warning system that incorporates weather forecasting, health data and epidemiological modelling.

The early warning system will focus on Catalonia, Spain, based on high-quality health data, high-resolution weather forecasts from the Catalan Meteorological Agency, and established links with local public health stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Use epidemiological models to transform operational forecasts into health predictions. Analyse and compare the spatiotemporal scales of predictability of forecasts and predictions.

Use this comparative predictability analysis to develop an operational, fit-for-purpose, early warning system.

The final aim of the work is to better inform potential end‑users such as public health agencies to activate emergency plans directly targeting vulnerable groups.

SKILLS

Teamwork.

Problem resolution.

Learning capacity.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

Have a completed PhD with expertise in environmental epidemiology, climate,



atmospheric sciences, mathematics, biostatistics, big data analysis or related areas.

Have a good track record of first-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals, preferably in high-impact journals.

Have experience in the modelling of the relation between environmental exposures and human health (e.g. distributed lag nonlinear models, spatial Bayesian methods, case time series analysis, case crossover analysis).

Have experience in common programming languages, with particular focus on R; have experience with the management and analysis of large datasets, and particularly, weather, climate and/or health data.

Be fluent in spoken and written English.

Be willing to apply to individual fellowships to become an independent researcher and define new own research lines.

Be willing to work in an inter-disciplinary team within a highly collaborative research institute.

LANGUAGE LEVEL

Proficiency in English.

CONDITIONS

Contract: 1 year, full time.

Salary: 30k / 35k gross annual.

Work-Life Balance: 36 days off per year (23 vacation days + 13 personal days).

Start date: as soon as possible.

In ISGlobal we are committed to maintaining and developing a work environment in which the values and principles of our organization are respected and equal opportunities between women and men are promoted in each of the areas in which we operate, not tolerating discrimination based on criteria such as age, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, functional diversity, political leanings, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

We confirm our commitment towards the value of the diversity of our staff and student population and seek to promote peace, equity, diversity and inclusion as essential elements in contribution to improving health worldwide.

📌 Postdoctoral researcher in environmental epidemiology (Madrid)
🏢 Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
📍 Madrid