Postdoctoral Research Scientist

The Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Scientist (PDRS) focused on health policy and maternal health. The PDRS will work closely with Dr. Jamie Daw, Associate Professor in HPM, and Dr. Heidi Allen, Professor at the Columbia School of Social Work. We seek an early-career researcher committed to rigorous, policy-relevant scholarship that can inform evidence-based changes in health policy and practice to improve maternal health in the United States.

A major component of this role will be to support and lead analyses of the Postpartum Assessment of Health Survey (PAHS), funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and led by Drs. Daw and Allen. PAHS is a large-scale survey of postpartum people conducted in collaboration with public health departments in six states, New York City, and the District of Columbia. The PDRS will play a collaborative and leadership role in scientific investigations using PAHS data, contributing substantially to understanding the experiences and needs of postpartum people and the structural and policy drivers of postpartum health and health disparities.

Responsibilities will include: conceptualizing and designing novel research questions; conducting literature reviews; performing quantitative data analyses; providing clear and rigorous analytic interpretations; supervising research assistants; preparing manuscripts as a first author and contributing as a coauthor; overseeing IRB and other regulatory requirements; presenting findings at national conferences; and contributing to grant proposals.

In addition to scientific outputs, the PDRS will engage in relationship-building and knowledge translation activities with state and city governments and other policymakers to communicate research findings and maximize the policy and practice impact of this work. The PDRS will receive close mentorship, protected time to develop and lead independent projects, and opportunities to engage with the broader scientific community through seminars, research meetings, and networking at the Mailman School of Public Health, the Columbia School of Social Work, the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Columbia Population Research Center.

This position is well suited for candidates planning a future career in academia or policy-oriented research organizations. The PDRS will be encouraged and supported to apply for individual fellowships and career development awards, as well as to develop an independent research portfolio aligned with their long-term career goals.

The initial one-year appointment will begin as early as May 1, 2026, with the possibility of renewal for a second year.

The salary range for this position is $72,116-$85,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This position is eligible for hybrid work, in accordance with Columbia University policies; fully remote work is not permitted.

• Doctoral degree (awarded prior to the start date) in a relevant field (e.g., health policy, public health, health services research, social work, statistics, epidemiology, or a related discipline)
• Research agenda related to maternal-child health in the United States as evidenced by dissertation research and/or prior publications
• Strong theoretical, study design, and quantitative analysis skills, including statistical programming in Stata and/or R
• Experience analyzing large-scale survey data preferred (e.g., PRAMS, NHIS, BRFSS)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organization and project management abilities, and experience with scientific writing for health policy and public health journals
• Interest in effective knowledge translation to policymakers and public health decision-makers
• Strong interpersonal skills, collegiality, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative research team

Columbia University is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff and is committed to working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from women, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.