Postdoctoral Fellowship in Urban Health, Environmental Science, and Participatory Methodologies (Brazil)

The UrbanHealthTwin project at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for a 24-month, fully funded fellowship supported by FAPESP. The project, titled "UrbanHealthTwin: A participatory digital twin to investigate the effects of Nature-Based Solutions on climate change-induced urban health challenges," focuses on developing participatory methodologies for implementing green-blue infrastructure in vulnerable communities in São Paulo. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team, collaborating with both local and international partners, including researchers from the Netherlands. The research will center on participatory digital twin frameworks that synthesize urban health and water dynamics, climate projections, and socio-environmental data to enhance resilience planning. By integrating high-resolution simulations with real-time community information, the project aims to improve disease risk assessment, climate adaptation, and public health outcomes. The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for mapping vulnerable groups, characterizing communities, and applying transdisciplinary methodologies to address socio-environmental vulnerabilities. The main objective is to establish guidelines for implementing green-blue infrastructure through participatory planning with community leaders in São Paulo's eastern zone. Applicants should have a PhD and demonstrated experience in participatory approaches, socio-environmental vulnerability analysis, and community-engaged urban sustainability research. The position requires in-person work with local communities at least three times per week and a 30-day research stay at a Dutch university. The fellowship offers a monthly stipend of R$12,570, travel support, and prohibits other paid activities during the appointment. Application materials include a CV, a research statement (up to 800 words), and two letters of recommendation. The deadline for applications is March 14, 2026. For more information, visit the FAPESP project page or contact the principal investigator, Estela Macedo Alves, at [email protected].