Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Center for Social Innovation

Boston College Introduction

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,654 full-time undergraduates and 5,072 graduate and professional students. Ranked 37 among national universities, Boston College has 923 full-time and 1,336 FTE faculty, 2,822 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.9 billion.

Job Description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow -Center for Social Innovation
FTE Range $66,000 - $75,813 based on experience

ThePostdoctoral Research Fellow will study child mental health in the UnitedStates, focusing on how children, youth, and families experience stress duringperiods of transition, such as in the aftermath of severe weather events orother crises. The fellow will conduct qualitative and quantitative research tounderstand risk and protective factors influencing mental health outcomes forchildren, as well as the role of family dynamics and support systems duringthese challenging times. This includes examining the use of digital technologyand social media, as well as access to essential services such as psychosocialsupport, education, healthcare, and community resources for both children andcaregivers.

Theresearch will aim to understand how youth utilize the tools available to themto support their health and wellbeing during challenging periods of transition,including formal supports such as mental health care and informal supports likesocial networks. It will also identify strategies to strengthen resilience andpromote long-term well-being for children and families, aligning with UNICEF's commitmentto ensure every child grows up in a safe, nurturing environment with access tomental health and psychosocial support. Findings will inform policy andadvocacy recommendations to advance effective and efficient strategies tosupport the health and well-being of children. The ultimate goal is to helpbuild systems that protect children's mental health during crises, transitions,and beyond.

ThePostdoctoral Research Fellow will work closely with Boston College's BarryFamily Professor in Social Work, Dr. Christopher P. Salas-Wright, onqualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and disseminationefforts related to child mental health and how children and families experiencestress during periods of transition. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will alsowork with UNICEF USA Senior Director of Research, Evaluation, and ResearchPartnerships, Dr. Anne Day Leong, and Dr. Salas-Wright on policyrecommendations, research translation, and other dissemination and localcommunity, national, and international research impact objectives.

Essential Function:

• Conduct qualitative research with children and parents,including designing interview guides, conducting qualitative interviews, codingqualitative data, and writing scholarly manuscripts and reports;
• Conductquantitative research with a focus on children, youth, and families, includingthe collection of survey data, data analysis, and writing scholarly manuscriptsand reports;
• Collaborate with Dr. Salas-Wright and Dr. Day Leong in disseminationefforts, including community presentations and the dissemination of reports torelevant professionals and organizations working with children, youth, andfamilies;
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners andstakeholders in the Eastern US (e.g., Boston, DC-area).

At theconclusion of the fellowship, the postdoctoral fellow is expected to deliver apublic policy-relevant report reflecting both qualitative and quantitativeresearch on the above topics. UNICEF USA will use the research report to informits advocacy efforts.

Although the PostdoctoralResearch Fellow can maintain a regular business hours schedule most of thetime, there will be a need to conduct some work in the evenings or on weekends.Working conditions for physical demands are limited to the use of the computer,the use of the telephone, and the ability to travel to community organizations.Some travel within the United States is required.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field suchas social work, public health, or clinical or community psychology required;
• clinicallicensure in social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy preferred;
• 2-3 years of experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research,including in-depth interviews and focus groups required;
• 2-3 years of experiencewith qualitative and quantitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Stata,Mplus) required; Strong oral and written communication skills in Englishrequired;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with an array of communitiesand stakeholders;
• Experience working with children, youth, and families ispreferred; Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a teamenvironment required; Strong organizational and project management skillsrequired.

Closing Statement

Boston College offers a broad and competitive range of benefits depending on your job classification eligibility:

• Tuition remission for Employees
• Tuition remission for Spouses and Children who meet eligibility requirements
• Generous Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Low-Cost Life Insurance
• Eligibility for both University-Funded 401k and Employer-Sponsored 403b Retirement Plans
• Paid Holidays Annually
• Generous Sick and Vacation Pay
• Additional benefits can be found on

Boston College conducts pre-employment background checks as part of the hiring process.

Boston College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected category, including disability and protected veteran status. Boston College's Notice of Nondiscrimination can be viewed at