Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cancer Prevention/Digital Health

Overview

The University of Louisville (UofL) School of Public Health & Information Sciences (SPHIS) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cancer Prevention/Digital Health to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on cancer prevention, health communication, social media, community-engaged research, & the development & evaluation of innovative behavioral interventions. The successful candidate will work closely with Eric R. Walsh-Buhi, MPH, PhD, Dean of SPHIS, Professor of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, & Deputy Director for Cancer Prevention & Control at the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center (BCC). This fellowship offers an opportunity for an emerging scholar to contribute to NIH-funded research while developing an independent research trajectory at the intersection of cancer prevention, behavioral science, health communication, & digital technologies. The fellow will participate in ongoing studies & help advance the next generation of cancer prevention interventions, particularly those targeting adolescents & young adults. The position is envisioned as a two-year research & professional development experience, with an initial one-year appointment & the possibility of renewal for a second year, contingent upon satisfactory performance & funding availability. The fellow will benefit from direct mentorship, opportunities for first-author publications, hands-on experience developing NIH grant applications, & interdisciplinary collaborations across UofL. Depending on eligibility & institutional processes, the fellow may also have opportunities for affiliation with the BCC & participation in its Cancer Prevention & Control research activities.

Position Description and Responsibilities

Responsibilities & Scholarly Expectations

The postdoctoral fellow will work collaboratively with Dr. Walsh-Buhi, interdisciplinary faculty collaborators, graduate students, & research staff. Specific responsibilities & scholarly goals will be established through an individualized research & professional development plan. The fellow will be expected to:

Research leadership & implementation

• Assume substantive responsibility for research activities, including study design, implementation, data collection, management, analysis, interpretation, & dissemination.

• Demonstrate increasing research independence & leadership throughout the fellowship.

• Contribute to scientific & operational success of ongoing & emerging research projects.

Scholarly productivity

• Lead the development & submission of first-author papers to peer-reviewed journals.

• Establish mutually agreed annual scholarly productivity goals. Depending on project timelines, these may include approximately two first-author manuscript submissions annually, alongside collaborative scholarly contributions.

Grant development

• Participate actively in the conceptualization & preparation of NIH & other extramural grant applications.

• Contribute to the development of the proposed R01 r&omized controlled trial of social media-based skin cancer prevention messages.

• Pursue opportunities to develop individual fellowship, career development, or other early-career funding proposals, as appropriate to eligibility & career goals.

Collaboration & mentorship

• Assist in training & mentoring graduate students & research staff.

• Participate in research team meetings, scientific seminars, & interdisciplinary research activities.

Professional development

• Participate in activities designed to strengthen research, scientific writing, grant development, leadership, & other skills needed for an independent research career.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities & Scholarly Expectations

The postdoctoral fellow will work collaboratively with Dr. Walsh-Buhi, interdisciplinary faculty collaborators, graduate students, & research staff. Specific responsibilities & scholarly goals will be established through an individualized research & professional development plan. The fellow will be expected to:

Research leadership & implementation

• Assume substantive responsibility for research activities, including study design, implementation, data collection, management, analysis, interpretation, & dissemination.

• Demonstrate increasing research independence & leadership throughout the fellowship.

• Contribute to scientific & operational success of ongoing & emerging research projects.

Scholarly productivity

• Lead the development & submission of first-author papers to peer-reviewed journals.

• Establish mutually agreed annual scholarly productivity goals. Depending on project timelines, these may include approximately two first-author manuscript submissions annually, alongside collaborative scholarly contributions.

Grant development

• Participate actively in the conceptualization & preparation of NIH & other extramural grant applications.

• Contribute to the development of the proposed R01 r&omized controlled trial of social media-based skin cancer prevention messages.

• Pursue opportunities to develop individual fellowship, career development, or other early-career funding proposals, as appropriate to eligibility & career goals.

Collaboration & mentorship

• Assist in training & mentoring graduate students & research staff.

• Participate in research team meetings, scientific seminars, & interdisciplinary research activities.

Professional development

• Participate in activities designed to strengthen research, scientific writing, grant development, leadership, & other skills needed for an independent research career.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD, DrPH, ScD, or equivalent research doctorate from an accredited institution in public health, health promotion, behavioral science, psychology, communication, epidemiology, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.

• Demonstrate research interests & experience relevant to one or more of the following: cancer prevention, health behavior, digital health, health communication, social media, community-engaged research, or behavioral intervention development.

• Have experience conducting empirical research, including data collection, management, analysis, & interpretation.

• Demonstrate strong scientific writing skills & potential for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

• Possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, & oral communication skills.

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently & collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference may be given to applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience with qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, or computational research approaches.

• Experience analyzing social media content, digital communication, or online engagement.

• Knowledge of behavioral or health communication theories relevant to cancer prevention.

• Experience with intervention development, human-centered design, community-engaged research, or implementation science.

• Familiarity with statistical, qualitative, or computational analysis software (e.g., R, Python, SAS, SPSS, NVivo, or equivalent tools).

• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications, particularly first-author manuscripts.

• Experience preparing grant applications or contributing to externally funded research.

• A demonstrated interest in pursuing an independent, externally funded research career.

•Applicants are not expected to possess expertise in all areas described above. Candidates who bring complementary methodological skills, innovative perspectives, & enthusiasm for interdisciplinary cancer prevention research are strongly encouraged to apply.

Competencies:

• Research Planning & Execution — Plans, implements, and manages research activities from study design through dissemination.
• Research Independence — Demonstrates increasing autonomy, initiative, and ownership of scholarly work.
• Critical & Analytical Thinking — Evaluates evidence, interprets complex findings, and applies appropriate analytical approaches to research questions.
• Scientific Writing & Scholarly Communication — Translates research findings into high-quality manuscripts, reports, presentations, and other scholarly products.
• Grant Development — Contributes effectively to the conceptualization and preparation of NIH and other extramural funding proposals.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation — Manages, analyzes, and interprets qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, or computational data.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration — Works effectively with faculty, students, research staff, methodological experts, and community partners across disciplines.
• Communication — Communicates complex scientific concepts clearly and effectively in written, oral, and collaborative settings.
• Organization & Project Management — Prioritizes competing responsibilities, manages timelines, and maintains progress across multiple research activities.
• Mentoring & Team Development — Supports the training, mentoring, and professional development of graduate students and research staff.
• Community Engagement — Builds productive relationships with community and professional partners and incorporates stakeholder perspectives into research.
• Innovation & Problem Solving — Develops creative, evidence-based approaches to emerging challenges in cancer prevention, digital health, and behavioral intervention research.
• Professional Development & Adaptability — Actively seeks feedback, develops new methodological expertise, and adapts research goals as projects and opportunities evolve.

Physical Requirements:

The position is primarily sedentary and office/research based. Requires the ability to work at a computer for extended periods; communicate effectively in person and electronically; attend meetings, seminars, and conferences; and occasionally move between offices, research facilities, and other University locations. May occasionally require light lifting or carrying of materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

Skills:

Research Methods; Data Analysis; Scientific Writing; Grant Writing; Statistical Analysis; Health Communication; Digital Health; Social Media Research; Behavioral Intervention Development; Project Management

Additional Information:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of individuals in this job. Other duties may be assigned as determined by management. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status.

If you require assistance or accommodation with our application process due to an impairment or disability, please email the contact listed above directly, or reach out to the Employment team at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Assistance and Accommodations Computers are available for application submission at the Human Resources Department located at 215 Central Avenue, Ste 205 - Louisville, Kentucky 40208.

About the University of Louisville In 2023, the University of Louisville celebrates its quasquicentennial, the 225th anniversary of the 1798 beginnings of higher education in Louisville. One of the nation’s first city-owned, public universities, UofL today is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for students, our community and society. As one of only 79 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Research 1 and a Community Engaged university, we impact lives in areas of student success and research and innovation, while our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens both. The university serves as an engine that powers Metro Louisville and the commonwealth and as a classroom for UofL’s more than 23,000 students, who benefit from partnerships with top employers and a wide range of community service opportunities. To learn more, visit louisville.edu. The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a member of the Kentucky state university system.