Postdoctoral Researcher in Maternal Health Implementation Science

Postdoctoral Researcher in Maternal Health Implementation Science

Location:
University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine
Open Date:
May 19, 2026
Description:

Posting Title: Postdoctoral Researcher in Maternal Health Implementation Science
Faculty Mentor: Rebecca Feldman Hamm
Department: OBGYN Research
Funding Source Type: NIH Grant
Number of Positions: 1
Candidates requiring visa sponsorship are welcome to apply

 

Position Summary:

The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is seeking applications for one Postdoctoral Researcher. This position is funded by the National Institutes of Health / Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The postdoctoral appointment is one year (12 calendar months - July 2026-June 2027) with an option to renew for one additional year. The purposes of the 7-year (2023-2030) AMETHIST@Penn project, executed in a collaboration with Columbia University, that the postdoctoral fellows will support are as follows:

• Establish an implementation science (IS) Hub that will provide IS expertise and other resources to Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence and other maternal health researchers.
• Maintain a focus on communities most affected by maternal mortality and morbidity
• Support research skills career development and build capacity for a diverse future of implementation scientists in maternal health through training programs, mentoring, and consultation.
• Characterize barriers and facilitators to the conduct of maternal health-focused implementation research across multiple projects, generate generalizable findings on implementation strategies and outcomes in maternal health, and identify promising practices for the continued successful conduct of such research.

The postdoctoral fellow will participate in conducting research about the viability of maternal health implementation projects and will support consultation and technical assistance activities of the implementation science Hub. This position can be conducted remotely, though the Postdoctoral Researcher will be expected to be present for twice annual in person research team meetings and an annual implementation conference in the Washington, DC area. All travel-related costs will be reimbursed. The majority of the researchers' time should be spent on the overarching goals of the AMETHIST project, with a minority of time on individual mentored research related to maternal health and IS.

COVID-19 statement: Consistent with NIH guidance, Penn is committed to ensuring the safety of all human participants and research staff engaged in human subjects research. All on-site work will be conducted in accordance with COVID-related modifications to University policies on research meant to minimize risk to research staff and participants.

This full-time research position includes full benefits. We are ideally targeting a start date of July 1, 2026, though we will also consider applicants who may require a later start date.

Responsibilities

• Qualitative and quantitative data collection
• Qualitative and mixed methods data analysis
• Development and execution of implementation science related programming
• Drafting of manuscripts
• Management of study logistics including organization, administration, data collection, and oversight of research assistants.
• Attendance at twice annual in-person research team meetings and once annual implementation science conference

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications

• Candidates must hold, or to have completed the requirements for, a PhD. Candidates who have completed the requirements for an advanced degree, but have not yet been awarded such a degree, must be able to demonstrate in a manner verifiable by the University that such requirements have been met.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work effectively in both independent settings and collaboratively in research teams
• Strong writing abilities
• Excellent oral and written communications skills

 

Preferred Qualifications (Optional)

• The ideal candidates will have a Ph.D. in implementation science, psychology, sociology, social work, organizational management, nursing, or a related area.
• The ideal candidate will have a strong background in qualitative methods (including focus groups, observation, interview) as well as experience or interest in maternal health and health equity.
• The ideal candidate will have some training in or experience with implementation science, but training will be provided or supplemented as necessary for the selected candidates.

Application Instructions:
Please provide all of the following for your application to be considered complete:

CV including list of publicationsLetter of InterestPlease contact Casey Vaughan (cv2653@cumc.columbia.edu) to highlight your application or with any questions about the position or the application process.

 

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.