Postdoctoral Scholar

Position Summary Seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to join a multidisciplinary research team at the College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University (MSU). Led by Dr. Steven J. Ondersma, Dr. Claire Margerison, and Community MPI Athena McKay, this team is three years into a 7-year community-engaged trial testing the ability of a multi-level digital intervention—augmented with on-demand live chat assistance from a Community Health Worker—to reduce pregnancy-related and -associated maternal morbidity and mortality (PRAMM). This study is part of the MSU MIRACLE Center, an NIH Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence funded under the NIH IMPROVE Initiative. Responsibilities - Help to ensure successful conduct of the trial - Present for community events and at conferences - Manuscript preparation - Assist with grant application development - Receive advanced training from Drs. Ondersma and Margerison in digital intervention development, randomized trials, and proposal writing, with the development of an NIH application as a key focus - Receive training from Ms. McKay in community-engaged and -partnered research - Collaborate with other faculty within the MIRACLE Center and across MSU Institutional Context - As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission - The University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches Professional Misconduct Review - A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position - Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings, or sanctions related to professional misconduct - Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation - All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct - Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage - The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment - The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position - The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review - All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files - If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn Equal Employment Opportunity - All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, or protected veteran status Required Degree - Terminal degree in Epidemiology, Psychology, Public Health, or related field Minimum Requirements - A doctoral degree or equivalent in Epidemiology, Psychology, Public Health, or related field - Demonstrated scientific writing ability - Proficiency in data management and analysis - Ability to work effectively and collegially with colleagues - Excellent time-management skills and ability to work independently on multiple projects simultaneously Preferred Qualifications - PhD - Subject-matter knowledge in one or more of the following: digital interventions, mental health, substance use, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related and -associated morbidity and mortality - Experience with intervention development and/or community-engaged research Required Application Materials - Cover letter describing research interests and career goals - Curriculum vitae - Names and contact information for three references - Writing sample Review of Applications Begins - On 08/28/2026 Remote Work Statement - MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly - Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon Website - https://publichealth.msu.edu/ MSU Statement - Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years - One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges