Postdoc in Evolutionary Approaches to Maternal-Child Health in Southern California

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A postdoctoral position is available at Chapman University in Orange, CA for a project utilizing interdisciplinary approaches to generate new insights to solve key problems in maternal-child health. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to develop and test novel hypotheses pertaining to maternal-child health in collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook (project PI) and members of Chapman’s Center for Excellence in Biopsychosocial Approaches to Health (CEBAH).

The ideal candidate would bring unique expertise and perspectives from biological anthropology, Darwinian medicine, health psychology, evolutionary psychology, public health, endocrinology or other fields to formulate and test interdisciplinary research questions. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to work with large existing NIH funded data sets that contain longitudinal data assessing biomarkers, hormones, psychosocial factors, ecological conditions, behavior and health outcomes in mothers, children, and fathers followed from pregnancy to the postpartum period. The postdoctoral fellow will also interface with local government and private stakeholders in an effort to create translational community-based interventions to improve maternal-child health.

Research projects on the following topics are especially encouraged:

  • Breastfeeding
  • Breast Milk Composition
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Female Aggression
  • Parental Behavior
  • Alloparenting
  • Pediatric Obesity
  • Obstetric Complications
  • Labor and Delivery

The ideal candidate would have experience using advanced statistical modeling tools (for example, multilevel modeling, growth curve modeling, structural equation modeling, or meta-analysis). The candidate should also have a demonstrated ability to write compelling research reports. The position is full-time for 12 months with a salary of $47,500 per year, plus full benefits.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Generate novel, testable hypotheses in collaboration with an interdisciplinary research team
  • Preform data analyses on existing large longitudinal data sets
  • Write-up research results for publication
  • Interface with local government and private stakeholders in Maternal-Child Health

Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Psychology, Anthropology, Public Health or related field.
  • Strong computational skills
  • Excellent communication skills, professionalism and time management
  • Background in maternal-child health is preferred

To Apply:

Send an updated CV and contact details for 2 referees to Dr. Hahn-Holbrook at hahnholb@chapman.edu, using the subject line “MATERNAL HEALTH POSTDOC”. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Earliest start date is January 2016.