About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Description
Dr. Kathryn Derose and Dr. Daniel López-Cevallos of the UMass Amherst Department of Health Promotion and Policy are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to begin Summer or Fall of 2025. This is a full time, 12-month, annually renewable position with a maximum duration of 2 years. The Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to research on community-partnered interventions aimed at addressing health disparities both in the U.S. and/or in Latin America; and secondary data analysis of cardiovascular health among military populations in the U.S. Current topics and populations of focus include faith-based organizations and health promotion; food security and nutrition interventions to improve treatment adherence among people with HIV in the Dominican Republic; and stress and cardiovascular health among military populations. Responsibilities include writing scientific papers, quantitative and qualitative data collection and/or analysis, literature reviews, community and study partners’ engagement, and grant writing. Overall goals and specific activities will be determined collaboratively between the post-doc and Drs. Derose and López-Cevallos but can include: first-authored and co-authored journal articles; development of project leadership skills; NIH and DoD grant submissions; quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods training; community-based participatory research, and formalized mentorship.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Public Health, Sociology, Psychology, Health or Public Policy, or other related social, behavioral, or population science field completed within the past 2 years
- Research experience in health disparities, cardiovascular health, community-based interventions, or community health
- Strong analytical skills (quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-methods)
- Strong writing skills
- Strong oral communication skills
- Ability to work across diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Fluency in Spanish (oral and written) preferred
Additional Information
The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be based within the Department of Health Promotion and Policy, which offers master’s and doctoral programs in Community Health Education (CHE) and Health Policy and Management and hosts a Center for Community Health Equity Research (CCHER). Drs. Derose and López-Cevallos are members of the CHE program and core faculty of CCHER. Research by the UMass CHE and CCHER faculty is driven by a common motivation grounded in social justice and a commitment to redress health inequalities. The faculty actively engage community members and organizations in identifying priority health issues, designing solutions, and testing these in rigorous scientific studies through community-based participatory research. The department is based within a School of Public Health and Health Sciences, which along with UMass more generally offers multiple opportunities for career development, including mentoring groups for post-docs.
Application Instructions
To apply, please complete the application form and submit a cover letter that includes a statement of research experience and interests, a CV, PDF copies of a recent publication or writing sample and three (3) letters of recommendation or the names and contact information of three (3) references.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.