Call for applications: Early-career training on air pollution and health

About the training

 The Health Effects Institute (HEI), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and Collaborative for Air Pollution and Health Effects Research – India (CAPHER-India) are organising a training on methods and approaches for air pollution and health research.

The training will cover modules on air pollution monitoring, exposure assessment, epidemiology, health impact assessment, as well as grant and science writing and science communication. This workshop will bring together 15-20 early-career researchers from across South Asia and a group of international and regional experts.

Objectives

• Equip participants with knowledge on various approaches of exposure assessments and health assessments for designing epidemiological studies.
• Develop participants’ skills in utilizing local air quality data for conducting health impact assessments.
• Provide training on accessing funding, drafting proposals, conducting research, and effectively communicating findings.
• Establish a network of early-career researchers across South Asia.

Eligibility

Early-career researchers based in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are eligible to apply for this training. Applicants should have a master’s degree or PhD in environment and a basic understanding of air pollution, air quality monitoring and epidemiology with minimum of two years research experience and at least one publication. Selected participants are requested to bring their own laptops to run the exercises during the training. The organising committee will review all applications and invite 15-20 applicants to participate.

Funding

For the selected participants, the host organisations will cover all the costs, including course materials, local and international travel, meals and accommodation, and visa fees. Additionally, 3-5 small research grants will be available for participants through a competitive selection process after the workshop.

Venue

The training course will be at the ICIMOD Headquarters or at a nearby hotel on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

Application process

Interested and eligible candidates from the South Asia region are requested to submit their application online here and upload the following documents:

• Cover letter: A one-page cover letter indicating your research interests, and what you expect to learn from this training.
• A brief CV: Professional responsibilities/ activities (include current job and institutional details); educational qualifications (highest degree/institution); one or two most important research publications (if any); and current teaching responsibilities (if relevant).
• Research abstract – A 400-word research abstract explaining the project you are currently working on or the topic of research interest.

Please submit your application here by 11:59 PM IST, Friday, 5 July 2024.

For any questions regarding the application form or the training, please contact Abinaya Sekar (asekar@healtheffects.org), with a copy to Deanna Sherpa (deanna.sherpa@icimod.org).

Organising committee

• Kalpana Balakrishnan, Sri Ramachandra Institute for Higher Education and Research, India
• Ajay Pillarisetti, University of California Berkeley, USA
• Om P. Kurmi, Coventry University, UK
• Bertrand Bessagnet, ICIMOD, Nepal
• Pallavi Pant and Abinaya Sekar, Health Effects Institute, USA