Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate

University of Southern California; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Epstein Family Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention Section in San Diego. The role emphasizes analyses of trial-embedded screening and longitudinal cohorts, supporting manuscript development and scientific synthesis of biomarker, screening, and cognitive data.

This 12-month appointment, renewable up to 24 months, involves collaboration with faculty and statistical teams, and

Qualifications

• PhD in epidemiology, public health, neuroscience, population health, or related field.
• Experience interpreting complex longitudinal or trial-embedded datasets with statistical teams.
• Strong scientific writing skills, including first-author manuscript drafting.
• Experience integrating biomarker, screening, or cognitive data into population-level interpretation.
• Ability to structure and advance manuscripts from analytic outputs to submission.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multi-investigator research environments.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multi-investigator research environments.

Responsibilities

• Advance manuscript development based on completed and maturing analyses within trial-embedded screening and longitudinal datasets.
• Draft and revise scientific manuscripts examining population heterogeneity, screening pathways, biomarker characterization, and cognitive associations.
• Translate statistical outputs into scientific narrative under analytic supervision.
• Conduct literature integration to support manuscript framing and interpretation.
• Participate in analytic discussions within existing Section and statistical governance structures.
• Contribute to preparation of abstracts and scientific presentations aligned with defined outputs.

Skills

Scientific writing

Collaborative work

Independent work

Longitudinal data analysis

Biomarker interpretation

Population health concepts

Education

PhD in epidemiology or related field

Job description

Postdoctoral Scholar

Epstein Family Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI), University of Southern California

About Epstein Family ATRI

The Epstein Family Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) at the University of Southern California serves as a coordinating center for multicenter clinical trials and longitudinal cohort studies in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. ATRI supports trial design, data management, screening infrastructure, biomarker evaluation, and participant engagement across national and international research programs.

Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention (RER) Section

Within ATRI, the Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention (RER) Section focuses on scientific areas related to screened populations, population-level differences, biomarker characterization, and retention dynamics within trial-embedded and longitudinal cohort studies. The Section supports analyses examining screening pathways, biomarker profiles, and participant engagement across clinical research programs.

Location: San Diego, CA

Location: San Diego, CA

Position Summary

Epstein Family ATRI is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to contribute to scientific analyses within the RER Section using trial-embedded screening and longitudinal cohort datasets. The position will support manuscript development and scientific synthesis related to population-level biomarker patterns, biomarker context, and cognitive associations within ongoing clinical research programs. This is a 12-month appointment, renewable for up to 24 months total, contingent upon funding, focused on advancing defined manuscript outputs tied to ongoing funded studies. The role operates within established analytic governance structures and collaborates with faculty and statistical teams to advance peer-reviewed publications. This position does not involve operational study management, recruitment oversight, or statistical leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Advance manuscript development based on completed and maturing analyses within trial-embedded screening and longitudinal datasets.
• Draft and revise scientific manuscripts examining population heterogeneity, screening pathways, biomarker characterization, and cognitive associations.
• Translate statistical outputs into scientific narrative under analytic supervision.
• Conduct literature integration to support manuscript framing and interpretation.
• Participate in analytic discussions within existing Section and statistical governance structures.
• Contribute to preparation of abstracts and scientific presentations aligned with defined outputs.

Reporting Structure

The Postdoctoral Scholar reports to Dr. Doris Molina-Henry, MPI of APEX, within the Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention (RER) Section, and collaborates with Section leadership, ATRI faculty and statistical teams under existing analytic governance.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in epidemiology, public health, neuroscience, population health, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting complex longitudinal or trial-embedded datasets in collaboration with statistical teams.
• Strong scientific writing skills, including first-author manuscript drafting.
• Experience integrating biomarker, screening, or cognitive data into population-level interpretation.
• Ability to structure and advance manuscripts from analytic outputs to submission.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multi-investigator research environments.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multi-investigator research environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with screening cohorts or biomarker-based trial populations.
• Familiarity with heterogeneity analyses and subgroup interpretation.
• Experience contributing to multi-author manuscripts within clinical research settings.
• Ability to synthesize findings across related datasets.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $70,304.00 - $90,000.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

Minimum Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within previous 5 years. Minimum Experience: 0-1 year Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education in research specialization with advance knowledge of equipment, procedures and analysis methods.