Postdoctoral Fellow in Adversity and Health University of Pennsylvania's Population Studies Center; PSC)

University of Pennsylvania:
School of Arts and Sciences:
School of Arts and Sciences - Sociology Location

University of Pennsylvania

Sep 10, 2026

The Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health (MLSFH; https://) at the University of Pennsylvania seeks applicants for a postdoctoral researcher to support a NICHD funded 5-year project on Adversities, Health and Resilience in Early Adulthood. This novel project builds on a quarter-century of social and contextual MLSFH data. Starting in 2017, the project captured prospective data from a new cohort of over 2,000 MLSFH children as they moved through adolescence.

They are now entering young adulthood, and the next phase of the project will examine how earlier childhood adversity influences sexual, reproductive and mental health, and how it is transmitted across generations to their children. The new study will provide unparalleled insights into how adversities exert lasting impacts across the life course and across generations, and identify key resilience processes that can inform policies.

The postdoc will work closely with Hans-Peter Kohler (hpkohlernn.edu) at the University of Pennsylvania, Rachel Kidman ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) at Stony Brook University, and other MLSFH collaborating partners in the USA and Malawi. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to engage in this innovative MLSFH project from in its analyses stage. Through this project, the postdoctoral fellow will gain access to newly collected 2026 data that provide exceptional research opportunities and facilitate long-term career building.

• Analyze longitudinal MLSFH data on the adolescent/young adult cohort to estimate the impacts of adverse childhood experience (ACEs) on health both across the life course and across generations
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary and international research team and with community stakeholders
• Disseminate research findings at scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings
• Draft manuscripts for scientific publication
• Provide technical and written assistance on grants for NIH and other external funding

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• Ph.D. in epidemiology, economics, demography, sociology, psychology and/or related fields
• Interest in global health, childhood adversity, sexual and reproductive health and/or life course analyses
• Skills in quantitative data and econometric/statistical analysis
• Excellent English verbal and written skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to establish priorities to meet deadlines
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary setting with an international research team