The Millennium Nucleus on Sociomedicine - SocioMed is seeking a postdoctoral researcher interested in biopsychosocial approaches to understanding and improving population health. Our goal is to conduct interdisciplinary research to advance a broader understanding of health, emphasizing social determinants but without overlooking human biology. To achieve this goal, we combine methods and large datasets from social, biological, health, and computer sciences. Combining available “cells to society” data with SocioMed’s extensive expertise on big data integration through record linking and cross-national harmonization provides an extraordinary comparative advantage to approach health from a biopsychosocial perspective, and advance research in three focal areas:
1. Healthy lifestyles. Understand how metabolic and behavioral patterns of healthy lifestyles interact with social factors in explaining health.
2. Social relationships. Assess the interconnections between social relationships (marriage, networks, support, loneliness, relations of production) and multiple health outcomes (self-reports, physical measures, and biomarkers).
3. Public policies: Explore how the availability and configuration of public policies influence health and shape human biology.
Our postdoctoral fellows will join a diverse, multi-centered and transdisciplinary network of PIs at Columbia University and three universities in Chile (Mayor, UFRO, Valparaíso). The appointment will be made by SocioMed in Chile and visits will be arranged at Columbia University for one up to six months. The postdoc will work in close collaboration together with Dr. Esteban Calvo and Dr. Daniel Belsky at the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Dr. Nicolás Montalva at the Society and Health Research Center at U. Mayor in Chile, and a team of researchers with background on social sciences, public health, molecular biology, and health informatics, focusing on diverse topics such as aging, cancer, migration, and suicide.
About us: As social scientists, we put core public health challenges in broad social contexts, emphasizing agency and lifestyles in relation to social structure, history, culture, economy, and policy. Unlike most social scientists, we strive to account for our bodies, including genes, microbiome, metabolism, and general physiology.
Qualifications: We are committed to interdisciplinary research and accept applications from a wide array of backgrounds, including population health, biomedical sciences, and social sciences. Applicants must have been awarded a PhD by the time of the appointment and must have a demonstrated record of publications. Skills in data analysis, statistics, bioinformatics, programming, and computer sciences are desired but not required.
Expected results: Postdoctoral fellows are expected to publish two scientific articles for each year the position is held and to support and collaborate with other members of SocioMed in research activities and funding applications. We also expect to involve postdoctoral researchers in training and dissemination. The initial appointment will be on a fixed term with subsequent reappointment up to 3 years based on performance.
Application: All applicants must submit the following documentation via email to nmsociomed@gmail.com: (1) CV, (2) application letter addressing qualifications mentioned above, (3) personal statement (1500 words) stating motivation to apply, research interests, and expected contribution to SocioMed. Please mention how your research could engage with the work in our labs and your possibilities to split time between the United States and Chile. Screening of applications will begin immediately and remain open until the position is filled.
