The research team led by Dr. Brandon DL Marshall, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, is hiring a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate. We are a dynamic and active research group focusing on substance use epidemiology, infectious diseases, and the social, environmental, and structural determinants of health of marginalized population. Our work seeks to improve the health of people who use drugs. We employ a variety of methods in our research, including agent-based modeling, observational analyses, clinical trials, and public health surveillance. Our team supports TITAN, a research program using agent-based modeling to investigate HIV transmission dynamics among people who use drugs. Working closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health, we manage PreventOverdoseRI, Rhode Island's drug overdose surveillance and information dashboard, to track, measure, and evaluate efforts to address the state's opioid overdose epidemic. We also serve as the Data & Research Methods Core for the Centre of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) on Opioids & Overdose, which supports Rhode Island-based investigators conducting cutting edge research to address the nation’s overdose crisis. Currently, our group includes two junior faculty, two postdoctoral research associates, three graduate students, four undergraduate trainees, a project director, a research programmer, a biostatistician, a data manager, two research associates, and six research assistants.
The selected Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) will participate actively in two new NIH-funded studies. The first will test a groundbreaking set of forecasting tools for public health and policy leaders to help predict future neighborhood-level trends in overdose. Once the forecasting model, called PROVIDENT, has been developed and validated, our team will work with the Rhode Island Department of Health to launch a statewide randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether targeting interventions to neighborhoods based on the PROVIDENT model will reduce the burden of overdoses at the state level. In the second study, we are working collaboratively with health departments in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York City to estimate the impact of alternative strategies for community and pharmacy distribution of naloxone on minimizing overdose fatalities and optimizing allocation of available resources in these jurisdictions. The PDRA will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of other federal and foundation-sponsored clinical trials involving people who use drugs.
The PDRA will receive mentorship in grant writing, including on a K career development award or an R-series grant. The PDRA will also be involved in analyses of rich, high resolution overdose surveillance data collected by statewide agencies and analyzed by our research team at the Brown University School of Public Health.
The commitment for this PDRA position is 1-2 years. Brown University is an equal opportunity employer and we strongly encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds, including racial/ethnic and sexual/gender minorities. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.
Start Date: By June 1st 2021. Can be as early as spring 2021.
How to Apply: Candidates should apply with a cover letter (summarizing research experience, qualifications, and career goals), curriculum vitae, and sample publication or equivalent. Candidates should apply online at: https://apply.interfolio.com/81876. Please indicate in your letter of application the search number (PH-282). Candidates should also provide the names and email addresses for three individuals familiar with their work who can be contacted for recommendations. Only those applicants who are selected for interviews will be directly contacted.
Application Deadline: This position will remain open until a qualified applicant is found.
Position Requirements: PhD, ScD, or DrPH in epidemiology or a related field in public health. Significant research experience as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications is required. Demonstrated interest in substance use epidemiology, overdose prevention, opioid use disorder, and/or harm reduction interventions is also required. Prior experience working with people who use drugs is preferred. Persons with a strong background in project management, rigorous training in epidemiological methods (e.g., geospatial analyses, longitudinal data analysis, machine learning methods) and/or clinical trials is highly desired.
Internal Number: PH282
About Brown's School of Public Health
Located in historic Providence, Rhode Island and founded in 1764, Brown University is the seventh-oldest college in the United States. Brown is an independent, coeducational Ivy League institution comprising undergraduate and graduate programs, plus the Alpert Medical School, School of Engineering, School of Public Health, Executive Master of Healthcare Leadership and the IE Brown Executive MBA.
