Post Doctoral Fellow, Environmental & Population Health

Post Doctoral Fellowship - Environmental Health & Climate Impacts in Ageing

Department: Population Health

Division: Medical College

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Project Overview

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access.

The Department of Population Health (DPH) at AKU is implementing the Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK)—a large, multi-site, population-based cohort study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA). LOSHAK forms part of a global network of ageing studies and is designed to generate high-quality longitudinal evidence to inform policy and practice in Kenya and internationally.

Role Summary

The Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK) is a flagship population-based cohort platform generating high-quality evidence on ageing, health transitions, and the social and environmental determinants of later-life wellbeing in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. LOSHAK integrates large-scale household surveys, environmental and geospatial data, biospecimens, and longitudinal follow-up, and is embedded within regional and global networks on ageing, climate, and health.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow who has completed a PhD in Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Public Health, Geography, Climate Science, or a closely related field is ideal for an early-career scientist seeking advanced training and leadership in environmental and climate-health research on ageing in LMICs, while contributing substantively to a world-class longitudinal cohort platform.

Purpose of the Role

The Postdoctoral Fellow will lead and co-lead high-impact research embedded within LOSHAK, contributing to:

· Design and implementation of environmental and climate exposure components relevant to later life.

· Advanced epidemiological and spatial analyses of environmental risks in older adults.

· Integration of climate, environmental, and longitudinal health data.

· Production of high-quality scientific and policy-relevant outputs.

· Design of nested studies for advancement of environmental health and climate impacts in ageing.

· Mentorship of postgraduate students and junior researchers.

The role bridges independent scholarship with platform leadership, positioning the Fellow for a competitive academic or research career in climate and environmental health.

Key Responsibilities

Research leadership & design

• Co-lead development of LOSHAK sub-studies on environmental and climate impacts in later life; refine exposure frameworks and analytical strategies; support ethics and regulatory submissions

Environmental & field systems

• Lead design, piloting, and optimization of environmental exposure modules (e.g., heat, air pollution, housing, neighborhood context); support field training and QA

Data integration & analysis

• Integrate environmental, geospatial, and longitudinal health data; conduct advanced epidemiological and spatial analyses

Scholarly & policy outputs

• Lead and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts; produce policy briefs and knowledge translation products

Grant development & platform growth

• Contribute to proposal development and donor engagement; support expansion of LOSHAK’s climate-health portfolio

Mentorship & team engagement

• Supervise PhD/MSc students; mentor research staff; engage multidisciplinary teams

Professional development

• Build an independent research profile in environmental and climate-health epidemiology

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Public Health, Geography, Climate Science, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and epidemiological methods.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong interest in climate, environment, and ageing or life-course health.
• Ability to lead components of complex, multi-site research.
• Excellent academic writing and communication skills.

Relevant Experience

• Experience with environmental or spatial data (e.g., air quality, heat, GIS, remote sensing).
• Familiarity with LMIC research environments.
• Experience with large-scale population surveys or longitudinal cohorts.
• Exposure to grant writing and collaborative research networks.

Personal Characteristics & Behaviours

• Demonstrates high scientific integrity and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Culturally sensitive and adaptable in diverse environments.
• Committed to mentoring and continuous professional development.