Postdoctoral Fellow

Job Summary

The Urban Health Collaborative at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University is seeking to hire a postdoctoral fellow to conduct innovative research to examine the effects of social policies on health and health inequities. We are especially interested in researchers with experience in quantitative policy analysis using non-experimental methods (e.g. Differences in differences, comparative interrupted time series, regression discontinuity, etc.).

The postdoc will be co-mentored by Alina Schnake-Mahl, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy and the Urban Health Collaborative, and Jackie Jahn, Assistant Professor in Epidemiology & Biostatistics and the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements, and Population Health Equity. The postdoc will support ongoing research in a collaborative center for legal epidemiology: evaluating law as an intervention to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities related to HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis. The project is a collaborative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and led by the Temple Center for Public Health Law Research. The project aims to strengthen the ability of health decision makers to identify and deploy laws and policies that improve health and health equity, with a focus on HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis, and disparities in these outcomes. Upcoming work will focus specifically on evaluating policies related to the health of incarcerated populations.

Under the mentorship of Drs. Schnake-Mahl and Jahn, the postdoc will have the opportunity to lead publications and develop their own research ideas, as well as contribute as a co-author to publications led by other researchers. The postdoc will also support project dissemination activities. The position will provide ample opportunities to network and collaborate with other investigators, CDC staff, and project partners at the Temple Center for Public Health Law Research.

The postdoc will be appointed in the Urban Health Collaborative, in the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, which offers unique mentoring and research opportunities. The postdoc will meet weekly or biweekly with their mentors and members of their research teams and attend various UHC activities and school-wide research presentations. Financial support may be available for travel to present results at scientific meetings and to visit the CDC. The earliest start date is Spring 2026, but we would consider later start dates for competitive candidates.

Essential Functions

• Developing, leading, and conducting analyses and writing papers as lead or co-author, presenting results at scientific meetings -
• Contributing to and potentially leading grant writing
• Actively participating in collaborative research meetings
• Developing white papers and other dissemination products (e.g. policy briefs, blog posts, op-eds) -Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a PhD or Doctorate in Health policy, epidemiology, health economics, sociology, or related field is required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience.
• A strong quantitative background is required, particularly in using non-experimental/quasi-experimental methods (DiD, CITS, IV, RD, SCM, etc.).
  Excellent writing and verbal communication skills are required.
  Intermediate to advanced R programming skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Students with interest and experience examining the effects of policies/laws on health and health inequities are strongly encouraged to apply, especially those interested in harm reduction, drug criminalization, and intersections with the criminal legal system.

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information
This position is classified as Exempt, grade K. Compensation for this grade ranges from $54,630.00 to $ 81,940.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel's compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.