The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC) invites applications for a postdoctoral research associate position in the fields of environmental health, air pollution exposure science, and geospatial modeling of environmental exposures, including the natural and built environment, and their impacts on cardiometabolic health across the life course. This position offers opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration and professional development, including publication, presentation at scientific conferences and involvement in proposal writing.

The applicant will be co-mentored by Drs. Shohreh Farzan and Rima Habre and will have the opportunity to work with several ongoing studies and center programs, including the USC CLIMA Center (https://clima.usc.edu), the Southern California Children’s Health Study, and the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort.  Areas of scientific investigation focus on the impacts of environmental exposures, including wildfire smoke and heat stress, on early indicators of cardiometabolic health from childhood through young adulthood. Additional areas of interest may include the joint modeling of multiple exposures and interactions with community and individual level adaptation/resilience factors on health outcomes.

This position will require innovative and insightful investigations in these areas, therefore individuals with very strong data analysis skills – e.g. advanced epi methods and exposure modeling/mixtures-- will be given strong consideration. The applicant must have a PhD in environmental health, exposure science, population health, and/or a closely related field and a background in one or more of the following is preferred: environmental/cardiovascular/molecular biology epidemiology, big data methods, geospatial methods for exposure modeling and analysis, machine learning, etc. The successful applicant will be an interdisciplinary, well-rounded and experienced individual who is driven, can work and succeed independently, but can also thrive in and contribute to interdisciplinary, collaborative team settings.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to leading independent data analyses, conducting sophisticated geospatial data generation and exposure modeling, assisting with study management, submitting abstracts to and presenting research findings at national scientific meetings, and manuscript and proposal writing in collaboration with Drs. Farzan and Habre. The ability to work independently, to proactively seek guidance when needed and to generate his/her own line of research aligned with Center goals is essential.

Specific responsibilities will include the following:

• Generates scientific hypotheses and conducts data analysis from start to finish
• Works independently with minimal supervision
• Writes manuscripts of completed work
• Contributes intellectually to scientific goals

The annual base salary range for this position is $70,000- $80,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

Minimum Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within previous five years Minimum Experience: 0-1 year Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education in research specialization with advanced knowledge of equipment, procedures and analysis methods. Preferred Field of Expertise: Publications in peer-reviewed journals in the same or related field. Skills: Other: Analysis Assessment/evaluation Communication -- written and oral skills Conceptualization and design Organization Planning Problem identification and resolution Project management Research Statistical analysis Skills: Machine/Equipment: Calculator Computer network (department or school) Computer network (university) Computer peripheral equipment Fax Personal computer Photocopier Supervises: Level: May oversee student, temporary and/or casual workers. Comments: A copy of the doctoral diploma or other certification that indicates that the terminal degree has been completed satisfactorily is required. If the doctoral candidate has not yet obtained a degree, he/she should provide evidence that a thesis has been approved together with a documented indication of the expected date of formal graduation. It is the responsibility of the faculty mentor to verify this documentation. The documentation is to be filed with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Current employees apply here