Two Postdoctoral Scholars in Epidemiology and Data Science in Adolescent and Young Adult Health - Nagata Lab, UCSF Department of Pediatrics 

Overview

The Nagata Lab at UCSF is focused on epidemiology and data science in adolescent and young adult health. We are requesting applications for two postdoctoral research fellowship positions. Start date preferred as soon as possible, but can be flexible. Remote work is possible. 

Description

• 100% research position focused on data analysis.
• Lead and coordinate data analysis for projects from national cohort studies related to downstream health impacts of adolescent behaviors.
• Lead projects related to adolescent digital technology use (e.g., screen time, Fitbit), physical activity, and cardiovascular health, and mental health (including eating disorders and body image).
• Analyze data from large national cohort studies such as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).
• Interpret and write up results, tables, and figures for peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and other public dissemination.
• Secondary responsibilities would include supporting/supervising graduate/medical students and support for grant-applications including preparation of preliminary analyses.

Team: The Nagata Lab in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco is focused on using epidemiology and data science to determine downstream health effects of adolescent and young adult behaviors. Dr. Jason Nagata, MD, MSc, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, will be the supervisor for this position. The lab fosters interdisciplinary collaborations across medicine, psychology, social work, nutrition, epidemiology, biostatistics, and others. The lab environment also includes a wonderful team of students and trainees. More info about the lab and research topics can be found at the lab website: https://nagatalab.ucsf.edu/

Environment: The postdoctoral fellow will be part of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, one of the oldest divisions devoted to adolescent health in the country. The Division also includes two federally-funded national research centers in adolescent health, including the National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center, which focuses on the intersection of health policy, guidelines, and implementation science for adolescent and young adult health.

Pay and Benefits

Applicants will be given a one-year contract, with the possibility for renewal up to three years.

Postdoctoral Fellow: Please visit UCSF's web page devoted to postdoctoral fellow pay and benefits: https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/pay-and-benefits

Project: The main research focus is to determine prospective associations between contemporary digital media exposures and mental/physical health outcomes in adolescents, including data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes of this work can inform guidelines and interventions to maximize benefits of adolescent screen time while mitigating potential risks. The postdoctoral scholar will analyze data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest longitudinal study of brain development and child health in the United States. The study follows 11,878 children (ages 9-10 in 2016-18) recruited from 21 U.S. research sites for 10 years. Our lab also has access to data from other national cohorts such as the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and The PRIDE Study. These data support interdisciplinary research bridging the social, biological, and computational sciences.

Required Qualifications

• PhD, DrPH, or equivalent doctorate in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, or a related field.
• Excellent data analysis/programming skills in Stata (preferred) and/or R for quantitative analyses (e.g., regression, mediation, interaction, longitudinal analyses)
• Strong understanding of biostatistics and epidemiological methods
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (written and oral) in English
• Demonstrated publication record
• Ability to work independently with occasional supervision as well as part of a team

The initial appointment is for 1 year, with the possibility for renewal for 2 additional years.

The start date can be as soon as convenient for the applicant.

Applications: Please submit to Dr. Jason Nagata at jason.nagata@ucsf.edu

• Cover letter that indicates your interest in the position. Please include comments on the following: skills and background in statistical programming; interests in epidemiology of adolescent and young adult health; career goals.
• CV – most recently updated
• References – Names and e-mail addresses of 3 individuals who can provide a recommendation (including the PhD supervisor).
• Coding sample (optional but recommended) – please submit a sample of your analysis code (preferably in Stata, others acceptable) and results corresponding to the findings (can be a peer-reviewed publication or written results/tables/figures). 
• Informal inquiries are welcome. Please contact jason.nagata@ucsf.edu

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

UCSF and the Nagata Lab are committed to reflecting diversity in its faculty, students, and other academic personnel.