Postdoctoral Scholar for the Child Health Research Center

Penn State University • University Park, IL

39d

About The Position

Dr. Jennifer Savage Williams, Professor of Nutritional Sciences, and colleagues in the Child Health Research Center (CHRC, http://childhealth.psu.edu) at Penn State are seeking a postdoctoral scholar. Aligned with the Center’s pillars of team science, innovation, and community-engaged research, this position provides mentored training within a collaborative environment that integrates basic, clinical, and population sciences. The fellow will have the opportunity to work on externally funded projects related to early-life obesity prevention, nutrition security, responsive parenting, pediatric primary care–community integration, and health equity among underserved populations with and without special health care needs, neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), and children and families with special health care needs. Scholars will be supported in developing independent lines of inquiry while leveraging robust clinical and community partnerships across Penn State University and Penn State Health. The program emphasizes rigorous methodology, cross-disciplinary collaboration, grant writing, and career development to prepare fellows for successful careers as externally funded investigators dedicated to improving child health outcomes locally and nationally. CHRC is a college-wide research center created to catalyze innovative interdisciplinary research and development of evidence-based interventions to improve health and well-being among children and families. Our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of children, families, and their communities through pioneering research, interdisciplinary collaboration, training the next generation of professionals, and robust community partnerships. The successful postdoctoral scholar will possess a doctoral degree (in public health, nutrition, kinesiology, psychology, human development, health services research, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in child health research. Competitive candidates will also have strong methodological training in quantitative and/or mixed-methods research, a record of peer-reviewed publications, and grant-writing potential. Knowledge of early-life prevention, health equity, child development, and research inclusive of children with disabilities and families of children with special health care needs is highly desirable, as is experience in implementation science or pragmatic trial design. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team at CHRC that includes faculty, research staff, outreach staff, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants. We work closely with a number of other units throughout Penn State including the departments of Nutritional Sciences (http://nutrition.hhd.psu.edu), Biobehavioral Health (http://bbh.hhd.psu.edu), Human Development and Family Studies (http://hhd.psu.edu/hdfs) and Kinesiology (http://hhd.psu.edu/kines), the Social Sciences Research Institute (http://ssri.psu.edu), and the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (http://ctsi.psu.edu), as well as with colleagues at Penn State College of Medicine, and government and community organizations throughout Pennsylvania. The postdoctoral scholar will gain experience, knowledge, and skills in evaluating interventions, performing advanced data analysis, preparing manuscripts and grant proposals, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree (in public health, nutrition, kinesiology, psychology, human development, health services research, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in child health research
• Strong methodological training in quantitative and/or mixed-methods research
• A record of peer-reviewed publications
• Grant-writing potential
• Candidates will have a PhD in nutrition, public health, human development and family studies, psychology, or a related field
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Proficiency in SAS
• PA State Police Criminal Background Check
• PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form
• Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of early-life prevention, health equity, child development, and research inclusive of children with disabilities and families of children with special health care needs is highly desirable, as is experience in implementation science or pragmatic trial design.

Responsibilities

• Leading and contributing to externally funded research projects
• Designing and managing data collection and analysis
• Preparing manuscripts and conference presentations
• Assisting with grant development (e.g., K- or R-series applications)
• Mentoring graduate and undergraduate trainees
• Actively engaging in interdisciplinary team science across the Penn State University Child Health Research Center and Penn State University community
• Supervision of graduate students and wage-and-payroll student employees
• Developing intervention curricula and materials
• Developing study protocols
• Training staff to deliver interventions and collect data
• Developing and overseeing intervention fidelity-monitoring systems
• Study coordination
• Data collection
• Data management

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

What This Job Offers

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