Post-Doctoral Associate

Postdoctoral Associate position(s) available to pursue innovative, rigorous scholarship, examining whether long-term neighborhood changes improve the health of families and the next generation. The postdoctoral associate will collaborate on a recently funded National Institutes of Health (NIH) study focused on the influence of housing policy and neighborhood environment on health: including fertility, infant, maternal health and mortality, among families across generations. Application review begins on August 25, 2025, and will occur on a rolling basis until a candidate is hired. Multiple hires are possible.

The successful candidate for this position will work under the supervision of Dr. Theresa Osypuk, Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health, and Director of the Minnesota Population Center, to conduct population health research. The candidate will be housed within the vibrant intellectual research environment of the Minnesota Population Center (MPC), in the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation (ISRDI), at the University of Minnesota.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Specific responsibilities include conducting empirical analyses with the project data; developing, writing, presenting, and publishing research articles; collaborating with the interdisciplinary project team to execute the project; and engaging in professional development and mentoring. The postdoctoral associate will be expected to write, develop, and submit manuscripts to scientific journals; and present research findings at 1-2 scientific meetings annually (e.g., Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS), Population Association of America (PAA), and/or Society for Epidemiology Research (SER)). The postdoctoral associate will be mentored closely by Dr. Osypuk, meet with her at least weekly, and work closely with the cross-institutional research team. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to engage in MPC's rich interdisciplinary intellectual environment. This may include attending research seminars and training workshops (occurring weekly during the academic year); participating in MPC's research and professional development programming; developing professional connections with other researchers at MPC, ISRDI, and UMN; and other activities.

APPOINTMENT DETAILS

• The candidate is required to work on-site at the Twin Cities Campus of University of Minnesota for at least 30 hours/week. On-site work includes accessing data in the FSRDC and attending team meetings, events, activities, and professional development on Campus.
• The successful candidate will devote their effort to collaborative and independent research. The split of research time includes: 90% effort allocated to research devoted to this project, with 10% independent research (unrelated to this project, up to the discretion of the candidate).
• The start date is early Fall 2025. This is a 100%, 12-month appointment with the possibility of continuation subject to performance and availability of funding.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoral degree in epidemiology, social epidemiology, public health, demography, or a related field by the start date
• Established record of population health research and scholarship
• Record of scholarly publication
• Strong quantitative analysis skills, with a minimum of 3 years of statistical programming experience with R, Stata, and/or SAS
• Excellent English language written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, especially with respect to academic writing
• Ability to advance science independently, and as part of collaborative teams
• Interest in fostering an inclusive environment and appreciation of differences in the workplace
• The selected candidate must have, or be able to acquire, Special Sworn Status, to work in the Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC), of the Census Bureau

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS*:

• Current Census Bureau Special Sworn Status,
• Research experience or interest examining fertility, maternal morbidity (health conditions during pregnancy), and/or infant health outcomes at birth
• Research experience or interest examining midlife mortality
• Expertise with linkage studies of administrative data, family structured data, nested data
• Experience analyzing data from the Moving to Opportunity Study, and/or cohort studies and/or social experiment studies of families and adolescents
• Experience or interest in the long-term effects of social contexts (e.g. neighborhoods, housing), structural factors, social policies, and their health effects
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams

*Are you excited about this job and meet the required qualifications, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every preferred qualification? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If this is you, we strongly encourage you to apply because you just may be the right candidate for this role.

The MPC attracts more than 200 faculty, research staff, and student affiliates from two dozen academic units. Established in 2000 and funded by the National Institutes of Health, MPC cultivates innovative population research by providing a stimulating environment for interdisciplinary exchange, a growing population science training program, and research support services designed to develop and nurture promising areas of new population research. Affiliates of the MPC benefit from co-location in ISRDI with the renowned IPUMS data infrastructure projects, the University of Minnesota's Life Course Center, and the Minnesota Research Data Center (which is part of the Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) network).

Diversity and inclusion are core values of MPC. We aspire to create a team that represents the diversity of our city, our region, and our world, and to create a space that encourages and embraces inclusiveness, equal opportunity, and respect. We strongly encourage women and members of racialized minority groups to apply.

Pay Range: $61,008- $68,000 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume. Applications must include (1) a recent CV, (2) names and contact information of 3 references, as well as (3) a cover letter addressed to Dr. Osypuk, describing your interest in and qualifications for the position.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).