Research Scientist - Department of AI&I

Mayo Clinic•Jacksonville, FL

About The Position

The Research Scientist will play a key leadership and scientific role within the sponsoring research program, contributing to the design, execution, and dissemination of innovative research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, health communication, and digital health equity. This individual will significantly contribute to grant writing and serve as co-investigator or co-principal investigator on extramural grant applications led by the principal investigator, with opportunities to serve as principal investigator on collaborative projects. The Research Scientist is expected to develop and lead a focused research portfolio leveraging emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and social network analysis, to advance health communication, reduce misinformation, and address health disparities across diverse populations. The role includes leading research on digital health interventions such as AI-driven communication tools, chatbots, behavior ontologies, and virtual agents, studying the diffusion of health information and misinformation across media ecosystems, and advancing ethical and equitable applications of AI in healthcare. The individual will serve as a key internal and external representative of the research program, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams including clinicians, data scientists, and informaticians. They may represent the principal investigator at national or international meetings and contribute to strategic partnerships with academic, industry, and public health stakeholders. The Research Scientist will lead and manage independent and collaborative research projects in AI-enabled health communication and digital health, contribute to programmatic development in areas such as virtual trials, AI-driven patient engagement, and health equity research, mentor trainees and junior investigators, provide intellectual leadership in study design and methodology, and support teaching and training activities aligned with the investigator’s program.

Requirements

Doctoral level degree
Minimum of 6 years of postdoctoral research training at Mayo or elsewhere (8 years preferred)
Demonstrate a strong, independent research program in health communication, digital health, or AI in healthcare, particularly involving social media, misinformation, or health disparities
Expertise in computational methods such as natural language processing, machine learning, or social network analysis applied to health-related data
Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration with clinical, public health, or biomedical research teams
Track record of extramural funding, high-impact publications, and national or international recognition
Hold or be eligible for an academic appointment at Mayo Clinic
Demonstrate the ability to contribute to an established, high-impact research program
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee or asylee.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading research on AI-enabled health promotion, digital interventions, or chatbot-based communication tools is preferred.
A strong background in health misinformation, risk communication, or crisis communication is desirable.
Expertise in cultural, behavioral, and social determinants of health is highly valued.
Experience working with large-scale social media or real-world data and prior funding from agencies such as NIH or foundations are also preferred.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the design, execution, and dissemination of innovative research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, health communication, and digital health equity.
Contribute to grant writing and serve as co-investigator or co-principal investigator on extramural grant applications.
Develop and lead a focused research portfolio leveraging emerging technologies.
Lead research on digital health interventions such as AI-driven communication tools, chatbots, behavior ontologies, and virtual agents.
Study the diffusion of health information and misinformation across media ecosystems.
Advance ethical and equitable applications of AI in healthcare.
Serve as a key internal and external representative of the research program.
Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams including clinicians, data scientists, and informaticians.
Represent the principal investigator at national or international meetings.
Contribute to strategic partnerships with academic, industry, and public health stakeholders.
Lead and manage independent and collaborative research projects in AI-enabled health communication and digital health.
Contribute to programmatic development in areas such as virtual trials, AI-driven patient engagement, and health equity research.
Mentor trainees and junior investigators.
Provide intellectual leadership in study design and methodology.
Support teaching and training activities aligned with the investigator’s program.