Postdoctoral Associate - Youth Development and Prevention Science Lab
About The Position
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF . The Youth Development and Prevention Science Lab in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Science (PI: Dr. Xiaoya Zhang) at the University of Florida is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to join our research team. The postdoctoral fellow will conduct independent and collaborative research, contribute to ongoing projects, and actively participate in the intellectual community of the lab. This will be a one-year position, with the possibility of renewal based on funding availability. The postdoctoral scholar will engage in research on adolescent behavioral and mental health, with an emphasis on person × environment interactions. Relevant research topics may include (but are not limited to): a) environmental influences on development, including online experiences, family contexts, and other social ecologies; b) person-by-environment interactions, including differential susceptibility to online and offline experiences and exposures; c) applications of computational social science methods in developmental research (e.g., use of large language models (LLMs) and other advanced computational approaches to study developmental processes). We strongly encourage fellows to develop their own research program within the fields of developmental science, making use of the laboratory’s unique data, methodological, and computational resources to expand their research scope. The position offers close mentorship, collaborative opportunities, and strong support for professional development. Background information The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences , the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station , the Florida Cooperative Extension Service , the College of Veterinary Medicine , the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
Requirements
- Completion of all doctoral degree requirements (PhD or equivalent) (by the start date
- Strong methodological training (quantitative, computational) and proficiency in programming languages such as R and Python.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
- Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values
Responsibilities
- Conduct independent and collaborative research
- Contribute to ongoing projects
- Actively participate in the intellectual community of the lab
- Engage in research on adolescent behavioral and mental health, with an emphasis on person × environment interactions
- Develop their own research program within the fields of developmental science, making use of the laboratory’s unique data, methodological, and computational resources to expand their research scope
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What This Job Offers
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
