U.S. Health Equity Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Harvard University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive stipend

Research funding

Professional development support

Travel covered for fieldwork

Job summary

Harvard University is offering a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship in health equity within the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine. The fellowship invites early-career researchers to engage in original research aimed at advancing health equity in the U.S., particularly in low-income settings. Responsibilities include developing and conducting research projects, collaborating with field partners, and participating in professional development activities.

Fellows will receive a competitive stipend, research funding, and support for travel and professional development. Join us at Harvard University to make a real impact on the health-care system!

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field tied to social medicine, such as anthropology or epidemiology.
• Ph.D. should be completed within three years before fellowship starts.
• Experience in low-income communities is essential.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. health-care systems is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop original research projects focused on health equity.
• Collaborate with field partners for data collection and analysis.
• Integrate insights from biological and social sciences into research.
• Engage in seminars and workshops for professional development.

Skills

Experience in low-income communities

Knowledge of U.S. health-care systems

Intellectual curiosity

Independent work organization

Collaboration with local partners

Education

Doctoral degree in social medicine or global health

Ph.D. completed within three years

Job description

U.S. Health Equity Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School invites early‑career researchers to join a two‑year postdoctoral fellowship dedicated to advancing health equity in the United States. Fellows will design and execute an original research project that innovates toward a more efficient and equitable U.S. health‑care system, focusing on low‑income settings in the U.S. and abroad.

Responsibilities

• Develop and conduct an original research project in health equity, informed by a biosocial, interdisciplinary perspective.
• Collaborate with field partners in low‑income communities to collect and analyze data on access to care, health‑system resilience, and community‑based interventions.
• Work with primary and co‑mentors—faculty from Global Health and Social Medicine and a relevant Harvard University department—to integrate biological and social science insights into the project.
• Engage with department seminars, workshops, and career‑development activities to prepare for the next phase of a research career.

Benefits

Fellows receive a competitive stipend, research funding, and professional‑development support. Travel for fieldwork and participation in all department activities are covered.

Location

Boston, Massachusetts with travel to research sites as needed.

Faculty Research Areas

• Ecology of poverty and development
• Health impacts of the climate crisis
• History of medicine
• Intersection of culture, coloniality, and well‑being in North American Indigenous communities
• Medical anthropology
• Mental health: epidemiology, interventions, implementation science
• Political economy of health
• Tuberculosis: epidemiology, clinical trials, co‑infection, social stigma, community interventions

Basic Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a field linked to social medicine or global health (e.g., anthropology, history, sociology, economics, ecology, epidemiology, implementation science, bioethics)
• Ph.D. completed within three years prior to the fellowship start date
• Experience working in low‑income communities
• Knowledge of U.S. health‑care systems

Additional Qualifications

Applicants should be intellectually curious, early‑career researchers who have organized independent work, collaborated with local partners in low‑income settings, and are prepared to engage with department faculty and activities.

Salary and Benefits

Fellows are salaried and eligible for benefits. Postdoctoral salary is determined by years post‑Ph.D.; additional details can be found at https://postdoc.hms.harvard.edu/guidelines.

EEO/Non‑Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. The University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any characteristic protected by law.