Postdoctoral Associate, Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health

We invite applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Community Health Sciences at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) under the mentorship of Drs. Danielle F. Haley, Kaku So-Armah, and Matthew Fox. The overall goal of our NIDA-funded study is to evaluate cannabis exposure and associated risks among aging people living with HIV (PWH), with particular focus on understanding how cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) affect geriatric syndromes (including falls, fractures, delirium, and dementia) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure and adherence. This research uses longitudinal data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), and the Mt. Sinai HIV cohort, combined with novel natural language processing (NLP) algorithms applied to electronic health records (EHR) to understand cannabis-related harms in aging PWH and people without HIV.

The position will entail collaborations with several investigators with expertise in HIV epidemiology, substance use epidemiology, cannabis and alcohol policy research, informatics, causal inference methods, and geriatric health. This position offers a competitive compensation package (commensurate with experience). We seek bright, curious, and highly motivated individuals interested in applying their skills to tackle complex epidemiologic problems at the intersection of HIV, substance use, and aging. Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent degree in epidemiology, health sciences, biostatistics, or related quantitative health field. Research experience in HIV epidemiology, substance use/cannabis research, health informatics, aging research, or causal inference methods is desirable but not required. Applicants should have the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

BUSPH is committed to building and nurturing an inclusive professional community in which every person feels they have a rightful place, are welcome and respected, and are supported in their endeavors. The Department of Community Health Sciences at BUSPH provides a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment along with a wealth of resources to build a career. Fellows can take advantage of training, education, and mentorship opportunities at BUSPH, in general, and engage in opportunities specifically facilitated by Dr. Haley.

Primary responsibilities of this position will be:

1. Contributing to the dissemination of findings, including:
   • Preparing first-authored and co-authored manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
   • Conducting comprehensive literature reviews related to cannabis epidemiology, HIV, aging, geriatric syndromes, and/or methodological approaches used in the study
   • Collaborating with the research team on publications aligned with the research group's aims
2. Creating area-level and temporal measures, including:
   • Contributing to the creation of area-level contextual metrics across data years and geographic regions
   • Documenting procedures and processes for measure creation and validation
   • Ensuring consistency and quality of measures across time periods and cohorts
   • Contributing to the technical development of analytical variables
3. Implementing quantitative bias analyses (QBA)
   
   • Identify bias parameters from the literature
   • Develop models in conjunction with faculty to implement QBA methods
   • Work with faculty to implement methods
4. Supporting other study activities and operations including:
   
   • Participating in regular study team meetings
   • Presenting preliminary findings at study team meetings and works-in-progress presentations
   • Assisting with the implementation of the study’s data sharing plan

The Postdoctoral Associate will be expected to participate in career development activities and prepare grant applications to establish research independence. Fellows will also have opportunities to develop mentoring skills within their research groups.

Required Skills

Required education and skills

• PhD or equivalent degree in epidemiology, health sciences, biostatistics, or a related field within the past 2 years
• Excellent communication skills in both spoken and written English
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Experience in epidemiologic methods and longitudinal data analysis
• Track-record of publication in peer-review journals

Examples of current projects in which the postdoctoral fellow may be involved

• Conducting literature reviews synthesizing evidence on cannabis harms in aging populations and PWH
• Exploring how cannabis legalization alters the associations between cannabis use and geriatric outcomes
• Conducting quantitative bias analyses to understand the implications of sources of residual systematic error
• Investigating the relationship between cannabis use and ART adherence and HIV viral suppression in older PWH

HOW TO APPLY : Send a single PDF cover letter describing career goals, research interests, and reasons for applying, curriculum vitae, graduate school transcript, one first-author publication, and contact information for three references to Kara Magane: [email protected]

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.