Lynch Family Foundation Health Equity Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Lynch Family Foundation Health Equity Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University adopts a unique biosocial, interdisciplinary approach to research and training focused on improving health delivery and promoting health equity worldwide. Problems of health equity are biosocial phenomena that require insights from both biological and social sciences.

In memory of the late Professor Paul Farmer, the department has created a post‑doctoral fellowship to support research fundamental to health equity rooted in a biosocial, interdisciplinary approach modeled by Professor Farmer. Fellows will be early‑career researchers who spend two years based in the department. Their primary responsibility is to pursue an original research project of their own design, with field research sites in low‑income settings of the Global South.

Fellows will be assigned a mentor—a department faculty member with overlapping research expertise or interest in the Fellow’s proposed topic. In addition to a fellowship stipend, research funding and professional development funding will be available.

This position is located in Boston with travel to research locations as needed.

• Design, conduct, and analyze an original health equity research project in a low‑income setting.
• Collaborate with local research partners and community‑based organizations.
• Publish and disseminate findings through scholarly articles and presentations.
• Participate in department seminars and career‑development workshops at Harvard Medical School.
• Maintain regular communication with the assigned faculty mentor and senior faculty.

• Doctoral degree in a field linked to social medicine or global health (e.g., anthropology, history, sociology, economics, ecology, epidemiology, implementation science, bioethics).
• Doctorate completed within three years prior to the start date.
• Experience working in low‑income communities.

• Intellectually curious researcher at an early stage of scholarly career.
• Demonstrated capacity for independent research and collaboration with local partners.
• Engaged in academic activities, including seminars and workshops.
• Open to both U.S. and international candidates; visa sponsorship eligibility assessed by Harvard.

• Two‑year fellowship with stipend, research funding, and professional development funding.
• Mentorship by a faculty member with overlapping expertise.
• Access to departmental seminars, faculty, and workshops at Harvard Medical School.

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non‑discrimination policy.

The policy ensures all community members can participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.