This is an exciting opportunity for an early career African researcher working on the effects of global climate change on human health, well-being and populations to develop a collegial partnership with researchers at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) and the School of Demography at the Australian National University (ANU).

In 2020, the Caldwell Fellowship will support one early career African researcher to undertake research at the ANU for a one-year period. The position will be based within the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health in the Research School of Population Health, undertaking research related to the effects of climate change (including other environmental changes such as air pollution and urbanisation) on human health. The Fellowship will fund travel to and from the ANU, and salary for a level B academic (see https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/enterprise-agreement/schedule-1-academic-staff-salary-schedule-0). The researcher must be affiliated with an African research institute or university and have a PhD or equivalent experience or be in the final stages of completion of a PhD.

A primary goal of this program is to establish ongoing collaboration between ANU and research institutions in Africa.

Application process

The application should provide:

1. A cover letter that includes the applicant’s name and area of research interest
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A statement of the activities proposed to be conducted during the visit and expected outcomes
4. A brief description of how the research interest reflects John C (Jack) Caldwell’s academic legacy and aligns with research at NCEPH and/or the School of Demography
5. A statement on how the visit will enhance longer-term collaboration between NCEPH and/or the School of Demography and the Caldwell Fellow’s institution
6. A brief statement outlining analytical capabilities (quantitative or qualitative research skills)
7. A letter of support from the supervisor, including support for future collaboration with researchers from NCEPH and/or the School of Demography.

The proposal covering items 3, 4 and 5 should be no longer than three pages (total). Applicants are encouraged to make contact with researchers in the Environment, Climate and Health group at NCEPH as they develop their proposal. Applications that include researchers and activities at both NCEPH and the School of Demography are strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding the Fellowship and completed applications can be directed to Professor Robyn Lucas at robyn.lucas@anu.edu.au.

Completed applications should be submitted by 31 March 2020.

Background

John C (Jack) Caldwell’s significant research output provided theoretical insights into the dynamics of population and health change. Not content with measuring change, Jack and his collaborators sought to understand how men, women and couples adopted or retained sexual, child-bearing, child-rearing and health promoting behaviours in the face of economic and social changes. The demographic and behaviour responses that interested him included migration, susceptibility to infectious disease, use of health services, age at marriage, marital fertility and impact of education and economic change on family structure.

Jack Caldwell led research throughout Africa and Asia. As head of the, then, Demography Department in the Research School of Social Sciences and, later, the Health Transition Centre at NCEPH he mentored researchers and students from all over the globe. Jack, along with his wife and collaborator Pat Caldwell, were drawn to work in some of the world’s poorest settings.

The intention of this Caldwell Fellowship is to build capacity at the ANU to undertake significant African population health and development research by creating collaborations with African researchers and research institutions.

The Caldwell Fellowship is funded through the John C (Jack) Caldwell Chair in Population, Health and Development Endowment Fund.

Research at NCEPH and the School of Demography

The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) in the Research School of Population Health (RSPH) has achieved Australia’s highest ranking for public health research. Its multidisciplinary research teams undertake research in the areas of cultural and social determinants of health, health equity, infectious and chronic disease, and environmental health. For more information visit https://rsph.anu.edu.au/research/centres-departments/national-centre-epidemiology-population-health .

The ANU’s School of Demography is the home of demographic research at the ANU. Current research focuses on family formation and policy, population ageing, population modelling, migration and reproductive health. For more information see https://demography.cass.anu.edu.au/ .