Research Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management

University of Southern California

Sol Price School of Public Policy

Research Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management

Position Description

The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service are seeking a dedicated and innovative Research Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management who will enhance our scholarly mission and advance health care policy. The candidate will have the opportunity to work within a dynamic team at the Institute, leveraging resources to increase research capacity in studying health care policy through both new and existing research efforts.

The position is primarily funded through contracts and grants, with partial research support provided by core funds from the Schaeffer Institute. The successful candidate will hold an appointment as a Research Assistant Professor within the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Price School.  They will have an additional appointment as a Scholar in the USC Schaeffer Institute, working alongside faculty and staff there. 

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct collaborative, leading-edge research in health policy and economics

• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences

• Communicate research findings to policy and academic audiences

• Secure grants and funding for research projects

• Mentor students and junior researchers and contribute to the academic community

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field such as health policy, economics, or public policy

• At least three years of experience in conducting research in health policy and economics

• Proven track record of successful grant funding and publication in leading journals

• Demonstrated leadership capabilities in research project management and grant solicitation

• Ability to communicate research findings effectively to both policy and research audiences

About the USC Schaeffer Institute

The USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy and Government Service was established by an historic gift from USC Trustee Leonard D. Schaeffer in 2024.  Its mission is to develop and promote strong public leaders; support civic engagement; amplify the reach and impact of USC scholarship and offer evidence-based policy solutions to the nation’s most pressing political, social, and economic challenges.  It houses two programs under one umbrella—the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and the Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service.

About the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics

Since its establishment in 2009, the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics has served as an intellectual hub for health policy and health economics research at USC. The Schaeffer Center’s mission is to measurably improve value in health through evidence-based policy solutions, research excellence, and private and public sector engagement. As the home to about 150 faculty, staff, and fellows—including 3 Nobel Laureates—the Center produces some of the leading academic research in its field. The Center ranks 4th in the world in health economics, and we have become a trusted resource for Congress, federal agencies (including CMS, FDA, CBO, and NIH), and organizations such as the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

In 2023, Schaeffer-affiliated faculty testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Senate Finance Committee; and the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. Center experts are regularly sought out by media outlets—including the New York Times, NPR, Stat, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post—to provide insight on health policy issues. As of June 2024, the Schaeffer Center has received approximately $115 million in federal funding, mostly from the NIH. Additional information on the Center and our successful policy efforts can be found in our latest Annual Report.

About the Sol Price School of Public Policy

Ranked among the foremost schools of public policy in the nation, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy generates uncommon knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1929, the Price School is anchored by four departments: Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Estate Development; and Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. Rigorous academic programs provide students with the knowledge and distinctive opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their professions. Integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience and led by some of the world’s most renowned faculty in their fields, our students establish a clear pathway to successful careers.

The academic programs are augmented by several highly visible research centers and  institutes that provide additional research expertise and experiences.  Notable among them are: The Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public; The Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy; The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate; The METRANS Transportation Consortium; The Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics; and The Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.

Together, these departments and research enterprises provide unmatched breadth and depth to tackle an enormous range of challenges facing our country and the world. Price graduates hold leadership positions across diverse sectors – public, private, and nonprofit – championing the advancement of the common good. They come from around the world and from a variety of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to create a rich intellectual environment that celebrates, supports and benefits from diverse people and opinions.

About the Department of Health Policy and Management

USC Price’s Department of Health Policy and Management is on a mission to improve the lives of others and reduce health disparities. We are committed to training the future leaders of health care who will improve not only the health of our broader population, but make the delivery of care safer, expand access and make health care affordable. Our faculty are policy experts, former health care consultants and managers, and health economists who work collaboratively within research centers on campus, including the nationally renowned USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, to promote health and value in health care delivery through innovative research in the United States and internationally. The Department of Health Policy and Management has principal responsibility for two-degree programs:  a traditional Master in Health Administration (MHA), and a blended, online Executive Master in Health Administration (EMHA).  We also train and work with doctoral students in the Price Public Policy PhD Program who are in the health policy track as well as those doing Health Economics in the Dornsife Economics PhD program. 

Compensation and Benefits

The University of Southern California offers a competitive salary within an academic environment based on the candidate’s experience and accomplishments. The university also offers excellent benefits to employees, which include: health, dental and life insurance; tuition assistance; disability and retirement plans; credit union membership; and participation in cultural and social events, as well as access to athletic and recreational facilities.

The annual base salary range for this position is $115,000-$190,000.

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.

Note: The base salary for this position will be determined by rank and commensurate with experience, skills, education, and training.

To Apply for This Position

To be considered for this position, all applicants should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and list of three references. Consideration of applications will continue until the position is filled.