Project name: Urban Heat Island Effect and Women: A Study of some Squatter Settlements in Delhi

Call for Field Investigator: 1 post   Duration: 60 Days

Abstract: The urban heat island (UHI) effect is a common environmental problem occurring in metropolitan areas in which the air temperature is significantly higher than in suburban areas. As cities expand, natural landscapes are increasingly replaced by concrete buildings, asphalt roads, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces. These materials absorb and store heat during the day and slowly release it at night, making urban areas significantly warmer than surrounding peri-urban or rural landscapes. This is known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect. According to the World Bank’s 2025 report, Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India, temperatures in Indian city centres are already 3–4°C higher than surrounding areas. With India’s urban population projected to reach 951 million by 2050, tackling urban heat is now essential for resilient urban development. Urban Heat Islands increase cooling demand and intensify heat stress, disproportionately affecting children, older persons, outdoor workers, economically vulnerable communities, and people with disabilities or illness. They also strain water resources, reduce biodiversity, and worsen climate impacts, affecting the liveability and productivity of cities.

Roles & Responsibilities:

  1. Field visit and explore the neighbourhood
  2. Community interaction of the selected neighbourhood
  3. Pilot study based on pre-structured questionnaire
  4. Field visit and the reporting of the key persons’ interview
  5. Socio-Economic data collection from the finalised questionnaire
  6. Reporting of GD and FGD

The field researchers are expected to stay close to the respective field site during the survey. The applicant must commit to work full time for the mentioned duration.

Preferred Candidates

Master’s degree in relevant field (Preferred but not limited to Social Sciences), with some prior experience of conducting field work. Experience in collecting both quantitative & qualitative data is highly desirable. The educational qualification cannot be a constraint for experienced candidates. Candidates from historically marginalized communities and women are encouraged to apply

Good communication skills in spoken Hindi and written English is mandatory.

Remuneration – Salary is 20,000/- per month

Application Process: Interested individuals can send their updated CV to bhaswati@cwds.ac.in latest by 25th  October, 2026.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Seema Kazi – Principal Investigator

Bhaswati Thakurta – Co-Principal Investigator