Research Psychologist (Health Services and Population Research

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Mahalo for your interest in this role! Please see the full position description below and

LAUKOA is seeking an experienced Research Psychologist (Health Services & Population Research) to support the Defense Health Agency's Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE), located in Silver Spring, MD. This position provides scientific expertise in health services research, population health, behavioral health research, and program evaluation to improve the delivery of psychological health services across the Military Health System.

The successful candidate will conduct research that evaluates healthcare utilization, access to care, treatment effectiveness, patient outcomes, and population-level behavioral health trends. This role works closely with Government stakeholders, clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, implementation scientists, and researchers to generate evidence that informs policy, improves healthcare delivery, and strengthens military readiness.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conduct health services and population health research supporting the Defense Health Agency Psychological Health Center of Excellence.
• Design, execute, and evaluate behavioral health and psychological health research studies using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Analyze healthcare utilization, treatment effectiveness, patient outcomes, and behavioral health trends across military populations.
• Support research initiatives focused on resilience, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep health, substance misuse, and other psychological health priorities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop research protocols, evaluation plans, and study methodologies.
• Analyze large datasets and interpret research findings to support strategic decision-making and policy development.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, technical reports, executive briefings, presentations, and research summaries.
• Support survey development, data collection, and evaluation activities associated with behavioral health research programs.
• Translate research findings into practical recommendations that improve healthcare delivery and psychological health programs.
• Monitor emerging behavioral health research and identify opportunities to improve Military Health System programs and services.
• Participate in technical working groups, scientific advisory panels, and stakeholder meetings.
• Ensure all research activities comply with accepted scientific, ethical, and methodological standards.
• Collaborate with Government personnel and partner organizations to support ongoing research initiatives and program evaluations.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Capability to provide senior-level expert recommendations on psychological health topic areas (e.g., PTSD, Depression, Suicide).
• Capability to design and conduct health services research investigations using large military administrative healthcare datasets (e.g., diagnostic epidemiological studies).
• Capability to analyze and interpret research results.
• Capability to produce technical artifacts (e.g., reports, tools, briefings, presentations, and manuscripts) consistent with the KSAs described here and with the broader PHCoE mission set.
• Ability to diagnose and treat psychological problems of all complexities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 13 years of full-time post-doctoral work experience directly related to the planning and execution of research in the field of psychological health.
• At least 5 years of full-time post-doctoral experience supporting health services research studies related to psychological health using large administrative healthcare datasets.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust background investigation and Common Access Card (CAC).
• Occasional travel may be required in support of contract performance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference may be given to candidates with experience supporting:
  • Defense Health Agency (DHA)
  • Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE)
  • Military Health System (MHS)
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Department of…