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Postdoctoral Scholar-Health Sciences Research Institute

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Position description

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system’s 10 campuses. With 8,500 undergraduate and graduate students (https://www.ucmerced.edu/fast-facts), UC Merced provides outstanding educational opportunities to highly qualified students from the heart of California, the nation, and abroad. The campus has special connections to nearby Yosemite National Park; is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design; and supports the economic development of Central California. The Merced 2020 Project doubled the physical capacity of the campus, and enhanced academic distinction, student success, and research excellence (https://merced2020.ucmerced.edu/).

The Housing, Opportunity, and Place (HOPe) Lab in the Public Health Department at the University of California, Merced (https://publichealth.ucmerced.edu/) directed by Professor Irene Yen is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral fellow. The Postdoctoral fellow responsibilities would include working with Professor Irene Yen and her team on a NIH-funded R01 project that investigates education trajectories and health. Qualified candidates with a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Epidemiology, Community Health Sciences, Public Health, Public Policy, Sociology, or other related social, behavioral, or population science field are invited to apply.

The education trajectories project is using sequence analysis to investigate how the type (e.g. high school, GED, community college, four-year college) and timing of education affects subsequent health outcomes. The postdoctoral position also includes opportunities for grant writing, the development of new projects, and to mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

The successful candidate will be expected to: (1) work independently with guidance from the principal investigator and collaborators; to, (2) draft manuscript(s) reporting findings; (3) perform quantitative analysis of longitudinal data; and (4) draft NIH or similar research proposal. Funds will be available for travel to one conference. The position is a full-time, 13-month academic position with an anticipated start date of April 1, 2021.

Required Qualifications
• Ph.D. or equivalent in Epidemiology, Community Health Sciences, Public Health, Sociology, or other related social, behavioral, or population science field.
• Interest in education and health.
• Strong methodological and data analysis skills (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods).
• Highly self-motivated individuals who have demonstrated the ability to conduct independent and collaborative scientific research.

Basic Qualifications:
Successful applicants will have a PhD in Epidemiology, Sociology, Psychology, Community Health Sciences, Public Policy, Behavioral Sciences, or Biostatistics.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference given to those with expertise in advanced analytical techniques (epidemiological and statistical techniques) and strong writing skills.

Specializations:
Psychology, Sociology, and Epidemiology or Biostatistics.

Interested individuals should submit 1) a cover letter describing research experiences and interests, and career goals, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) a list of three references with contact information including mailing address, phone number and email address, submitted through AP Recruit, and 4) up to three relevant (p) reprints.

For questions and more information, please contact Irene Yen at iyen@ucmerced.edu

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from all qualified applicants, including women, minorities, veterans, and individual with disabilities, who will enrich the teaching, research and public service missions of the university. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction).

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter - A cover letter describing research experiences and interests, and career goals.

  • (P) reprints - Up to three relevant (P) reprints.

Reference requirements
  • 3-4 letters of reference required