The research group Heidelberg Planetary Health Hub at the IWR of Heidelberg University is offering an Academic Researcher position to contribute to a multidisciplinary research initiative (TULIP Project) addressing plastic pollution, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and nature-based solutions.
This position provides an exciting chance to support impactful research at the crossroads of community health, environmental engineering, and public engagement. You will evaluate the effectiveness of community-based interventions, analyze the economic externalities of plastic pollution, identify health co-benefits of reducing plastic pollution, and conduct environmental behavior studies. The role focuses on applied research with direct relevance to policy and practice, requiring both academic rigor and authentic engagement with the subject. The position initially is offered for one year, with the possibility of extension, and does not include a PhD opportunity.
Academic Researcher in Planetary Health for EU project TULIP (f/m/d)
Your tasks:
Under the guidance of a senior researcher, you will
- Assist with designing and implementing causal impact evaluations of community interventions using experimental or quasi-experimental study designs, working collaboratively with project partner institutions
- Conduct a comprehensive literature review and synthesize available databases to map and quantify health and ecosystem externalities of plastic pollution, and the health co-benefits of proposed solutions and policies. This includes contributing to the evaluation of health impacts, such as direct and indirect effects on productivity, ecosystem effects, and aesthetic effects. When feasible, contribute to quantifying externalities and incorporating them into scenario-based integrated simulation tools as projected costs, non-monetary co-benefits, or direct benefits
- Participate in designing and implementing surveys to collect data on knowledge, attitudes, behaviour, and practices related to plastic and antibiotic consumption and disposal, awareness of citizen science, and barriers to behavioural change. You will contribute to conducting embedded experimental studies to understand how information provision influences risk perception and values. You will participate in assessing the non-market value of risk reduction due to plastic pollution through stated preference methods
Your profile
- PhD in epidemiology, health or environmental economics, social sciences with a quantitative focus, or related field
- Proven experience with quantitative primary research, experimental or quasi-experimental study designs
- Experience with economic valuation, cost-benefit analysis, or impact evaluation
- Experience with causal inference frameworks or impact evaluation methodologies
- Experience conducting research in or with LMIC contexts
- Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary research approaches
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating research expertise
- Proficiency in quantitative data analysis software (R, Python) and statistical methods
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English
We offer:
- Multidisciplinary engagement
- An intellectually stimulating environment within a dynamic, multidisciplinary research team
- (https://hei-planet.com/)
- Engagement with real-world environmental and public health challenges
- Opportunity to publish and build research collaborations with international partners
- Commitment to supporting the professional development and well-being of research staff
- Home office opportunity
Remuneration is based on the German wage agreement for the public service (TV-L, Entgeltgruppe 13).
Please send a PDF of your CV, including up to five publications if available, and a one-page motivation letter in one collated PDF file to: cassia.rocha@iwr.uni-heidelberg.de.The application deadline is 16.02.2026.
Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.
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