Dear ecolog members, I would like to advertise the following positions: Psychological benefits of biodiversity in Singapore. Positions: 1 Postdoc Project description: Exposure to nature has been linked to human wellbeing. These benefits range from increases in life satisfaction and health (e.g. reduced mental health problems, obesity and high-blood pressure). The majority of studies linking urban greenspaces and wellbeing have however been limited to temperate regions, and information to guide recommendations on how to achieve positive wellbeing outcomes from tropical urban greenspaces remains largely non-existent. In addition, research has in general focused on green spaces without distinguishing between the different components of biodiversity in ecosystems (e.g. species richness, functional diversity) and how the type of exposure to these components may affect wellbeing. This project aims to fill these gaps by studying the relationship between tropical biodiversity exposure and measures of wellbeing through nature walks, semi-controlled and controlled experiments. Roles: The research fellow will contribute to the project through devising research experiments and developing surveys to study how biodiversity influences wellbeing. Period & Application • Successful applicants will join the BioEcon Lab at the Department of Biological Sciences of the National University of Singapore. • Funding for the research fellow is at competitive rates and available for 2 years. • To apply please send your CV to dbsc...@nus.edu.sg (Roman Carrasco) before the 10th June 2018.
Sustainable diets for biodiversity conservation and human health Position: 1 Postdoc Project description: A global transition towards diets high in refined sugars, fats and animal protein is taking place as income rises in nations. This new diets unite human health, food security and the environment in unprecedented ways. On the one hand, they lead to higher prevalence of diseases such as coronary heart disease and type II diabetes, on the other hand, they require inefficient crops with large environmental footprints (e.g. cattle ranching, sugarcane) and that are produced, in most instances, at the expense of tropical forests. These multifold negative impacts open an opportunity to curb the rampant increase in non-communicable diseases while conserving nature and strengthening the food security of countries like Singapore. The project has two main research objectives: (i) identify and map the trade-offs between health, the environment and food security of individual ingredients and most consumed dishes in Singapore; and (ii) identify the substitutability between ingredients according to the preferences of consumers in Singapore. The project will aim to help Singaporean’s policy makers identify interventions that would most effectively switch consumer patterns towards healthier eating with minimum impact on their utility and respecting their preferences. Likewise, achievable dietary switches that increase the food security of Singapore and the preservation of nature will be identified. Roles: The research fellow will be in charge of survey design and data analysis using GIS and R and leading publication writing. Period & Application • Successful applicants will join the BioEcon Lab at the Department of Biological Sciences of the National University of Singapore. • Funding for the research fellow and research assistant is at competitive rates and available for 2 years. • To apply please send your CV to dbsc...@nus.edu.sg (Roman Carrasco) before the 10th June 2018. Thanks, Roman.
