Postdoctoral Research Scholar 0-5 yrs Experience

San Diego State University; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The SDSU Research Foundation invites applications for a research position in California focused on evaluating Medi-Cal expansions and their impact on health coverage, utilization, and program financing. The role offers rigorous training in health policy analysis, econometric methods, and large-scale data analysis under the supervision of the PI.

The project aims to publish high-impact findings guiding state policy.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Health Economics, Health Services Research, Health Policy or equivalent.
• Experience designing, conducting, and analyzing quasi-experiments in health policy research.
• Proficiency with statistical software (SAS, STATA, R, Python) and computational tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement quantitative analyses to assess Medi-Cal expansion effects on coverage and utilization.
• Clean, manage, and analyze large administrative and survey datasets (e.g., CHIS, ACS, Medi-Cal).
• Develop microsimulation models or other policy evaluation tools to estimate effects of coverage changes.
• Collaborate with faculty and policy partners to refine research questions and methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with data security protocols and IRB requirements.
• Prepare manuscripts and present findings at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
• Contribute to policy reports and white papers translating results for non-academic audiences.

Skills

Econometric analysis

Policy analysis

Data analysis

Quasi-experiments

Microsimulation

IRB/compliance

Education

Doctoral degree in Health Economics/Health Policy

Tools

SAS

STATA

MATLAB

R

Python

Job description

Please note that this position offers a fixed monthly salary of $6,435.00, which is not subject to negotiation. The appointment is for a fixed-term contract commencing on the date of hire and ending on March 31, 2027.Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work. Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values

• Service We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.
• Collaboration We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.
• Innovation We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.
• Respect We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.
• Integrity We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The School of Public Health at San Diego State University fosters a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment committed to advancing public health through evidence-based inquiry and community engagement. The school is home to diverse faculty expertise across health management and policy, global health, epidemiology, environmental health, and biostatistics, with a strong emphasis on addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. The SDSU School of Public Health is ranked in the top 15% among Public Health Schools in the United States and 3rd in California by U.S. News and World Report. Our research infrastructure includes partnerships with local and state health agencies, and robust support for quantitative and qualitative research. Faculty and researchers benefit from a dynamic academic setting that encourages innovation, impactful scholarship, and translation of research into policy and practice—particularly in areas such as Medi-Cal expansion, immigrant health, and health systems financing. This environment provides an ideal foundation for conducting rigorous, policy-relevant research that informs public health decision-making in California and beyond.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

A research position is available as part of a California Department of Insurance-funded initiative to evaluate the effects of Medi-Cal expansions regardless of immigration status. This project aims to generate evidence on how these policy changes influence health insurance coverage, healthcare utilization, program financing, and employment patterns across the state. The researcher will receive strong training in health policy analysis, public insurance program evaluation, and quantitative methods using large administrative datasets. The project is designed to produce high-impact publications and inform future policy decisions at the state level. For this position, the candidate will work under the direct supervision of project principal investigator (PI) Dr. Wilton Choi; and will join a growing research team at the School of Public Health. Candidates with strong motivation and a background in public health, health economics, policy analysis, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Experience with econometric/quasi-experimental approaches for causal effect estimation, microsimulation, data analysis, program evaluation, or California health systems is especially valuable.

Conducting Research 60%

• Design and implement quantitative analyses to assess the impact of Medi-Cal expansions on coverage, utilization, financing, and employment.
• Clean, manage, and analyze large administrative and survey datasets (e.g., CHIS, ACS, Medi-Cal claims).
• Develop microsimulation models or other policy evaluation tools to estimate effects of coverage changes.
• Collaborate with faculty and policy partners to refine research questions and methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with data security protocols and IRB requirements.

Publishing Research Findings 25%

• Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals in health economics, public health, and policy.
• Present findings at academic conferences, policy briefings, and stakeholder meetings.
• Contribute to policy reports and white papers aimed at informing California health policy.
• Translate complex research results into accessible formats for non-academic audiences.

Professional Development 1

0%

• Participate in seminars, workshops, and training sessions focused on health policy analysis and advanced econometric methods.
• Engage with interdisciplinary teams across SDSU and external institutions.
• Receive mentorship in grant writing, academic publishing, and career planning.

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

• Knowledge & Abilities
• Deep knowledge in a specific research area.
• Proficiency in quantitative, quasi-experimental, or computational techniques.
• Skilled in analyzing and interpreting data (e.g., using SAS, STATA, MATLAB, R, Python).
• Ability to write papers and reports for peer-reviewed journals.
• Understanding of ethical guidelines in research.
• Capable of planning and executing complex projects.
• Effective in team-based, interdisciplinary work.
• Strong oral and written presentation skills.
• Experience mentoring students or junior researchers.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Creative and analytical thinking for research challenges.
• Flexibility in adjusting research direction as needed.

Education & Experience

• Doctoral degree in Health Economics, Health Services Research, Health Policy or equivalent in an appropriate field.

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing quasi-experiments in the relevant field.
• A strong record of publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Proficiency in computational tools, or methodologies that are key to the research project.
• Experience with statistical methods, software, or programming languages (e.g SAS, STATA, MATLAB, R, Python etc.) is often highly valued.
• The ability to approach research questions from a critical perspective, developing innovative solutions and troubleshooting problems.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and take initiative in planning and conducting research.
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams or working in group settings.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for writing research papers, presenting findings at conferences, and collaborating with colleagues.
• Ability to mentor or supervise graduate students or junior researchers may also be preferred in some cases.
• Experience presenting research findings at national or international conferences.
• Demonstrates eagerness to learn new techniques, tools, or concepts.

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• SDSU Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.