Graduate Student Hourly RA Position: Developing Campus and Student Capabilities in Education and Public Engagement to Address Loneliness Through Nature-Based Interventions

Graduate Student Hourly RA Position: Developing Campus and Student Capabilities in Education and Public Engagement to Address Loneliness Through Nature-Based Interventions

We are seeking an ENVS grad student to support a new initiative at CU Boulder that aims to develop capacity to address loneliness through a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary educational and public engagement strategy by combining awareness-building, interdisciplinary dialogue, and curriculum innovation centered on nature-based social connection. We have two overarching objectives: 

  1. to develop a community of practice on the topic of loneliness and nature-based social prescribing; and;
  2. to develop educational capacity to prepare the pipeline of students to enter this interdisciplinary space –bridging planetary health and nature-based solutions.

The responsibilities for this project may include some of the following activities:

  • Assist in the planning of a Boulder community event to screen a new documentary on loneliness and nature-based solutions (Fall 2026) – identifying speakers, supporting travel logistics, assisting in event planning (agenda, location, food, promotional material etc)
  • Support efforts to create two new courses on the theoretical aspects of nature-health connections and intervention design and implementation (methods) – include literature reviews, course syllabi, guest speakers, course canvas platform setup and possibly serve as course grader/TA
  • Develop evaluation tools for project-related outreach and engagement
  • Assist in the preparation of the Boulder Pact to Alleviate Loneliness (B-PAL), including organizing meetings and special events as well as contributing, reviewing, and editing content for a website to support this new initiative

The grad assistant will work with Dr. Jill Litt, ENVS professor and Dr. Wes Tate, psychiatrist and founder of Pathways, a nature-based rehabilitation program launched in Boulder and scaled by the Trauma Foundation in Seattle, WA.

Ideal Profile of Candidate: Interest in healthcare sector, nature-based solutions; mental health, interventions, public policy, stakeholder engagement. Candidate should be a self-starter, able to work independently and well with others, and possess strong written communication skills. Additionally, the candidate should be comfortable with and willing to use social media and able to develop and/or support the development and management of a project website.

Expected Start Date: The position is open and the work can commence as soon as the project team is selected. 

Time Commitment: The internship is part-time (average of 7-10 hours/week) and can be completed over the next 12-15 months (September 2026- December 2027) with the possibility for an extension.

Remuneration: This is a paid position. $24/hr. 

If interested, please submit a brief motivation letter to Jill Litt at jill.litt@colorado.edu. Position is open until filled.

Background:

Friends in Nature, an evidenced-based innovative social solution to alleviate loneliness and promote wellbeing, was developed as part of the H2020 European Project, RECETAS to test nature-based solutions that are group-supported and nature-based to promote social connection, improve belonging, and purpose for millions of people worldwide experiencing loneliness and reduced quality of life. 

To date, FiN has accomplished:

  • 3 Randomized Controlled Trials with 1000 participants and 3 Cohort Studies (200 participants) in 6 countries (Spain, France, Finland, Czech Republic, Australia and Ecuador)
  • Creation of a web-based user experience for providers, participants, trained facilitators, and third sector organizations
  • Featured in Science Magazine, the BBC, the Washington Post, La Vanguardia, Ara Diaria, and many more media outlets
  • Over 30 scientific publications and proceedings emerging from the six pilot studies and health economic analysis of cost-effectiveness and social return on investment
  • Creator of “Connection in in our Nature,” a documentary about the experience of loneliness and the role of nature connection in alleviating it.

We are working to scale these ideas in the United States and will begin in Boulder, exploring these topics with local and regional health, social and land planners and clinical practitioners, building off the past Nature Programming, Nature Prescribing conference in 2023 at CU Boulder, led by Dr. Louise Chawla, Dr. Jill Litt, Dr. Wes Tate. Please refer to the recently published comment in Nature Mental Health that contemplates the underlying theories support this work.

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