Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences is seeking a tenure-track Associate Professor. We seek scholars with demonstrated expertise in applying relevant social and behavioral/social epidemiological theories, concepts and methods to measure the impact of structural and sociopolitical factors on physical or mental health, as well as demonstrate a particular understanding of the structural causes of health inequities, structural racism and health, and the social, psychological, and biological mechanisms that link these structural factors to physical and/or mental health outcomes across the life course.

We invite applications from candidates with demonstrated expertise in: (1) population health science; (2) quantitative or qualitative methods; and (3) social epidemiologic or other relevant theories for analyzing and/or intervening on structural factors such as, structural racism, that affect health and health inequities. Ideal candidates should have quantitative or qualitative work which focuses on (a) measuring how structural factors affects physical or mental health, including policy, social, psychological, and biological mechanisms linking structural factors to physical or mental health across the lifecourse; and/or (b) designing, implementing, or evaluating the impacts of public policies and/or public health interventions to prevent or mitigate how structural factors harm health. Demonstrated use of intersectional theories, concepts, and methods and demonstrated interest and expertise in the areas of race, racism, settler colonialism, immigration, and other social dimensions of racialized inequality are desirable. Candidates with expertise in structural racism are especially encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants should hold a PhD, ScD, or equivalent doctoral degree in social epidemiology, epidemiology, or a related public health field; or a doctoral degree in sociology, psychology, or other social science discipline with qualitative or quantitative training in public health.

Ideal candidates also have demonstrated excellence in conducting and disseminating research, as well as designing and teaching graduate-level courses. A strong record of externally funded research is desirable.

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers an exceptional environment in which its mission is achieved through research to identify the social and behavioral determinants of health, development and evaluation of interventions and policies leading to the improvement of population health, and the preparation of professionals and researchers who will fill leadership positions in advocacy and public service. The department’s educational mission is to train both scholars and practitioners: scholars whose research will illuminate basic social determinants of health and who will identify and test innovative social policy and service interventions; practitioners who are skilled in designing, implementing, and evaluating health-enhancing interventions in action settings. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s mission through his or her research and through teaching and advising students in the doctoral and master’s programs in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and mentoring postdoctoral fellows.

We encourage applications from members of groups recognized by the US National Science Foundation and US National Institutes of Health as being underrepresented in the scientific and biomedical workforce and also recognized by the NIH as constituting “health disparity” populations, i.e., African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Hispanics (or Latinos), Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; women; and sexual and gender minorities.

Please apply to: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/11089

For questions, please contact:

Chair, Search Committee for SBS
c/o Monika Szperka, Search Administrator

Email: mszperka@hsph.harvard.edu

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan SPH
677 Huntington Ave. Bldg 3, 7th fl
Boston, MA 02115

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health seeks to find, develop, promote, and retain the world’s best scholars.  We are committed to upholding the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our school and the communities we serve.

Harvard University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged.

Information on resources for career development and work/life balance at HSPH can be found at: http://hsph.me/resources-career-development-and-work-life-balance.