Postdoctoral Fellow - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Harvard University

Position Details

Title:

Postdoctoral Fellow - Social and Behavioral Sciences

School:
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Department/Area:
Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health seeks an outstanding individual for a Postdoctoral Fellow position to begin in the Winter of 2027 (start date is flexible). The successful candidate will participate in a NIH grant-funded project evaluating whether optimism and other positive psychosocial factors may lead to better cognitive health among older adults and biobehavioral mechanisms underlying these associations.

Key pathways of interest include physical activity and the gut microbiome.

Research activities encompass primary data collection and secondary data analyses in large cohorts, including large-scale mobile data collection. The fellow will work with our highly interdisciplinary research group, including scientists with expertise in epidemiology, aging, psychology, environmental health, and gut microbiome.

The Fellow will collaborate with faculty mentors (Dr. Laura Kubzansky – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Fran Grodstein, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University) to explore key research questions, generate multiple publications, and help write grant proposals.

The Fellow will be mentored to facilitate transition to independent research careers by emphasizing acquisition of analytic, writing, and other research skills. Further, the fellows will have an opportunity to learn from our highly interdisciplinary, collaborative, and dynamic research group that meets regularly and includes leading scientists (and other fellows) with expertise in several disciplines including: epidemiology, gerontology, social determinants of health, environmental health, and microbiome among others.

• General Research Activities. Carries out independently, under supervision, and in collaboration, designated research tasks and projects, making use of selected methodologies (longitudinal designs, moderation and mediation, causal inference), library research (Pubmed searches, systematic review methods), and statistical analysis (data visualization, descriptive analyses, time series analyses, latent modelling, multilevel modelling).
• Data Cleaning and Management. Engages both independently and under supervision in data management and data cleaning and organization in large (N~100,000) datasets, such as the Nurses Health Study cohorts.
• Data/Statistical Analysis. Processes, organizes and summarizes data, reporting results using a variety of scientific, word processing, spreadsheet or statistical software applications or program platforms including R, SAS, and others.
• Acquires Specialized Training. Attends trainings and skill development workshops as necessary to acquire new statistical skills.
• Reporting Results. Submits periodic reports of project status to supervisors, regularly suggests additional tests or modifications in current procedures;
• Manuscript Preparation. Takes the lead on or participates in research papers, manuscripts, progress reports, articles or other documents for publication and/or presentation;
• Data Safety. Regularly monitors data safety protocols for adherence to best practices in the responsible conduct of research;
• Responsible Conduct of Research. Engages in best practices for data management and reproducible research including use of commented code and R Markdown.

• General Support. Assists with project management tasks (e.g. IRB protocols, coordinating with subcontracted co-investigators, etc.)
• Other Responsibilities. Performs other duties as assigned. Provides oversight or support for research assistants and team members.

The candidate will be encouraged and mentored in applying for early career awards and independent grant funding.

• Doctoral-level degree in psychology, health and human development, social epidemiology or a related field
• Proof of successfully defending dissertation
• Skills in managing & programming large-scale epidemiologic data sets
• Proficiency with advanced statistics
• Knowledge of the interface between mental and physical health
• Publication record, with significant contributions to peer-reviewed publications beyond thesis papers
• Excellent planning, analytical, organizational, communication, and decision-making skills

• Interest in &…