Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Youth Health Equity

Northeastern University • Newton, MA

26d • $59,425 - $83,935

About The Position

About the Opportunity The Challenging Health inequities in Adolescents and Nurturing Global Empowerment (CHANGE) lab invites applications for a youth health equity postdoctoral fellow position starting Fall 2026. The postdoctoral scholar will work directly with Dr. Idia Binitie Thurston, Professor of Public Health & Health Sciences and Applied Psychology; Affiliate Professor of Africana Studies; and Associate Director of the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research (IHESJR). We are seeking an early career scientist who is committed to strengths-based research that advances health equity for youth of color and their families using community engaged practices. The CHANGE lab, which is housed in the IHESJR, has areas of focus ranging across individual, community, and structural levels of impact, including but not limited to: immigrant health, resilience in the context of syndemics, stress and resilience drivers of metabolic health, youth participatory action research, community needs assessment, social drivers of health, and structural barriers and facilitators of diversifying academic health sciences. The fellow will have opportunities to develop and execute their own projects.

Requirements

• A doctorate in psychology, public health, or relevant social science disciplines awarded no later than August 2026.
• Strong theoretical, design and quantitative skills including survey development, qualitative and mixed-method designs, advanced multivariate analyses, and Community Based Participatory Research.
• Established productivity as lead author on articles published in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience recruiting and working collaboratively with groups underrepresented in academia and communities experiencing marginalization
• Demonstrated commitment to a social justice, decolonial, and health equity research agenda, as well as strengths-based approaches to improving health outcomes
• Demonstrated research experience for at least 3 years in the social drivers of health for youth and families in one or more of the following areas: HIV and other sexual health risks or co-occurring adversities; mental health; risk and resilience in response to race- or weight-based stigma and discrimination; use of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology to address health inequities.
• Strong analytic and conceptual/theoretical skills
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate the findings of scientific research (e.g., assist in writing articles for peer-reviewed scientific journals) and work independently and co-operatively

Responsibilities

• The fellow will play a collaborative and leadership role in project design, study implementation, analysis, survey construction, data collection, data analyses, preparation of publications and conference presentations, applying for additional funding, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.
• The fellow will join staff, faculty, and students in planning and participating in programmed events sponsored by the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research, School of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, and Africana Studies
• The fellow will have the option of teaching and have opportunities for seeking funding for fellow-initiated research, grant applications and travel to professional meetings.

Benefits

• Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree