Postdoctoral Fellowship in Community-based Implementation Research

Mentors: David Mandell, ScD & Kelsie Okamura, PhD, ABPP

Department: Psychiatry

Funding Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Hawaii State Department of Health

Number of Positions: 1

Open to applications from U.S. permanent residents and citizens only.

The Penn Center for Mental Health (CMH) at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine invites applications for post-doctoral fellowships. This one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary training program at the intersection of implementation science, public policy, and mental health provides an excellent opportunity for social scientists to improve their knowledge of implementation science, behavioral economics, public mental health systems, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and how to conduct research that can address the needs of citizens at increased risk for mental and substance use disorders.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will support implementation research, applied implementation, and quality improvement initiatives. The fellow will work with existing community partnerships, including the Hawaii Department of Health, to conduct empirical research that benefits the community. The successful candidate will be able to navigate government and community agency systems, understand their own positionality and privilege in conducting research in underserved communities, and provide service to the community alongside research to support bidirectional learning and co-design. The fellow will also build and maintain their own program of implementation science research that aligns with the Center for Mental Health’s values and mission, team initiatives, and community projects. This position is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. The blended funding gives the fellow a chance to gain experience with both NIH-funded research and state government contracts.

For more details on CMH faculty, resources, and projects, visit https://www.med.upenn.edu/cmh/

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop a program of research that advances implementation science in youth mental health

• Actively participate in research project design, analysis, and reporting

• Independently conduct mixed methods research studies

• Coordinate and assist project staff with data collection, entry, and outcome reporting

• Collaborate with community partners to prepare and write grant applications

• Submit and present research at local and national forums

• Supervise research assistant professional development through weekly meetings and goal setting

Education and Experience

• Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Psychology, Social Work, or a related social service field from an accredited program

• At least two years of experience with empirical research and program evaluation (supervised experience is acceptable)

• At least one year of experience with program implementation, including evidence-based treatments, prevention, and/or education

• Knowledge of child welfare, juvenile justice, and/or mental health systems

• Experience using quality improvement strategies, using data to improve practice, and/or conducting translational research

• Experience with mixed methods, large datasets, and statistical analysis in SPSS/R for quality improvement or evaluation purposes

• Experience using online database systems and/or survey tools

Skills

• Strong project coordination skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines

• Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills

• Comfortable collaborating with professionals from a range of fields

• Oral and written fluency in English

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace

• Meticulous attention to detail

• Commitment to confidentiality and a high level of service in all interactions

• Strong ethics and commitment to working in an integrity-driven environment

• Commitment to cultural humility, diversity, equity, and inclusion

Interested candidates should submit:

• A cover letter addressing your experience related to the responsibilities above

• A curriculum vitae

• Two representative journal articles of your work

• Three reference letters submitted

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.