Research Fellow in Public Health

Harvard University

Institution: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Department/Center: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences / Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness
Location: Boston, MA (Hybrid; minimum three on-campus days/week; remote work not permitted)
Appointment Term: 1 year, renewable up to 2 additional years contingent on performance and funding
Salary: $65,000 – $73,000 per year, based on qualifications and experience

Position Overview

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will work with Dr. Vish Viswanath, Center Director, to advance the Center’s mission: building a rigorous, interdisciplinary science of positive health, happiness, and well-being with a focus on health equity and translating findings to practice and policy.

The Fellow will contribute to research, programmatic initiatives, curriculum development, and mentorship, with responsibilities split approximately:

  • Research-related activities (60%)

    • Lead original research projects aligned with the Center’s mission

    • Conduct study design, field-based or digital data collection, large-scale secondary data analysis

    • Data visualization, manuscript preparation, and publication

    • Mentor undergraduate and graduate students, supervise research staff

    • Disseminate research findings via presentations, conferences, and publications

  • Programmatic support (40%)

    • Assist in the implementation of workshops, seminars, symposia, and international conferences

    • Community-engaged research and partnership development

    • Develop curriculum for Harvard Chan courses, ExecEd, HarvardX, or short courses

    • Aid in creating and updating repositories for well-being and resilience measures

    • Support grant writing, proposal evaluation, and evidence-based interventions

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

  • Doctoral degree in public health, social sciences, or related discipline (dissertation successfully defended)

  • Strong research skills: data collection, advanced analytics, scientific writing

  • Publication record with contributions beyond thesis

  • Experience leading research teams and managing projects

  • Expertise in measuring well-being and resilience

  • Excellent planning, analytical, organizational, communication, and decision-making skills

  • Interdisciplinary research experience with focus on well-being and public health

  • Supervision or mentorship experience

  • Interest or experience in program development and community engagement

  • Preferred: experience developing science-based curriculum

Application Instructions

Application Portal: ARIeS at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Documents Required:

  1. Curriculum Vitae

  2. Cover Letter

  3. List of References (3 required)

  4. Academic Paper 1

  5. Academic Paper 2

Supplemental Question:

  • Explain how your research and training prepare you to contribute to the Center’s mission of building rigorous, interdisciplinary science of positive health, happiness, and well-being with focus on health equity (300-word limit)

Application Deadline: Rolling basis; applications reviewed within 3 weeks of posting

Contact:
Kelsey Torres, Assistant Director of Operations
Email: kelsey_torres@hsph.harvard.edu

Apply