The Postdoctoral Fellow will work as part of a multidisciplinary team engaged in HIV and other infectious disease research. The Fellow will help with conducting epidemiological studies of HIV and other infectious/chronic diseases among marginalized populations and use these data to inform the development of primary and secondary HIV prevention interventions and/or further longitudinal epidemiological investigations. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be eligible for up to 2 years of salary support, with the potential for an additional year (up to $120,000/year). Ideal applicants are those who have successfully completed their doctoral training and plan to transition to a full-time academic position (Assistant Professor) after the Fellowship period.

The Fellow will hold an appointment at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, and UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research & Health. The PI, Dr. Matthew Mimiaga, is Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Epidemiology; Director of the UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research & Health; and has a strong and successful history of mentoring early career investigators in achieving research independence and attaining faculty positions at top-ranked R1 research universities. The Fellow will be based in Los Angeles working closely with UCLA investigators and research staff, as well as funding agencies and research collaborators across the US to direct research projects, analyze quantitative data, prepare research results for scientific manuscripts and annual reports to granting agencies, and assist in publishing findings.

The successful candidate will be mentored in writing and submitting an NIH grant as PI and writing first and co‐ authored publications throughout the duration of the Fellowship. The primary focus of this Fellowship is to enhance the research capacity of the UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research & Health by fostering existing research collaborations and leading the development of new research grants and protocols.

Required:

• Applicants must hold an ScD, PhD (or MD) in epidemiology or behavioral science aspects of public health (or equivalent degree in a related field).

• Demonstrated academic background in HIV/other infectious disease research and/or work experience with sexual and gender minority populations or other groups disproportionately at risk of HIV.

• Prior experience working on federally funded (e.g., NIH) research.

• Advanced training in quantitative methods, data analysis and statistics (longitudinal modeling), and

  statistical programming (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work harmoniously with diverse individuals, including sexual and gender minorities, racial and

  ethnic minorities, and individuals living with HIV.

• Have no more than two years of postdoctoral experience.

  Preferred:

  • Experience leading or assisting in the writing of successful NIH‐funded research grants.

  • Demonstrated potential for achieving research independence by procuring future NIH funding.

  • A history of published research in the area of HIV prevention and/or LGBTQ+ public health.

    Funding and Review of Applications:

  • The two-year fellowship (with the potential for an additional year) provides funding in the amount of up to $120,000/year, and fellows are eligible for UCLA’s generous benefits package.

  • Review of applications will commence on July 20, 2023 and all applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

    The most important selection criteria will be evidence of superior qualifications and productivity, demonstrated interest in research with sexual and gender minorities, and career goals that will clearly benefit from the fellowship training. Competitive applicants will have a record of outstanding achievements, be highly motivated, think independently, and work well as part of an integrated multidisciplinary research team.

    Please submit a cover letter detailing your interest and fit for the position, CV, and three academic references to Dr. Matthew Mimiaga: mmimiaga [at] ph [dot] ucla [dot] edu. We are committed to recruiting and training a community of diverse scholars from minoritized groups and fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually enriching environment.