The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university a great place to work.  

As a community of Dornsife College “we are committed to the creation, preservation, and communication of fundamental knowledge in all its forms…as well as a lifelong passion for learning and a commitment to the betterment of society.”  The academic mission of Dornsife College can only be realized to its fullest potential when we build and protect a representative, equitable, inclusive culture of scholarship for students, faculty, and staff.  This is not done through initiatives but by embedding these values into the everyday interactions, relationships, policies, and practices of the College.  What is required is a seamless integration of the tenets of equity and inclusivity into every facet of academic life.  If we want our scholars, staff, and students to be able to give their very best, we must create an academic environment that portends success.  

Success is possible when every member of the Dornsife community owns their role as a steward of the culture in which we learn, research, and work; when we believe that it is because of who we are that we are able to do what we do: achieve excellence, together. 

Achieving a robust and inclusive academic culture requires more than just the completion of a task, but includes that person’s capacity to contribute positively to the relationships and culture of their office or department.  Therefore, any applicant seeking to advance the mission of Dornsife College should also be assessed on their capacities beyond the technical elements of their work, and demonstrate an understanding of their impact on others, and to articulate how they contribute positively to those around them.

The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate to join its team. The Postdoctoral Scholar will provide analytic leadership and support to a portfolio of academic research at the intersection of epidemiology, gerontology, and economics, covering topics including cognition and dementia, environmental risk factors such as pollution and climate, mental health, and cardiovascular disease. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work in a multidisciplinary environment as part of the larger research community within Global Aging team and the Center for Economic and Social Research, which offer substantial opportunities for professional development and growth.

Strong candidates will have an excellent quantitative background, strong writing skills, be highly motivated, and have excellent organizational and logical reasoning skills. The position is ideal for candidates finishing PhD programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, or other quantitative social science field. During their training, the Postdoctoral Scholar will be expected to publish first-authored manuscripts on projects aligned with the group and engage in collaborative research. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct statistical analyses (regression, longitudinal data analysis, imputation).
• Develop complex statistical code to extract, clean, manage, and analyze data in support of research projects.
• Lead new and innovative research projects focused on cognition, dementia, and other aging-related research topics.
• Disseminate findings from analytic projects at conferences and in peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Collaborate with team members on interdisciplinary projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Methodologic expertise in topics which may include causal inference methods, longitudinal data analysis, psychometric measurement methods, structural equation modeling.
• The ability to produce careful and detail-oriented work.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities and strong analytic skills.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Past research experience involving large datasets and complex computational tasks.

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $64,480-$82,000. 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.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• Targeted start date 6/1/2024.
  

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

Minimum Education: Ph.D. within previous five years in epidemiology, biostatistics, or other quantitative social science field. Minimum experience: 4 years