Health Policy Implementation Postdoctoral Scholar

Position Overview

The Community Health & Innovative Policy (CHIP) Laboratory, led by Dr. Denise Payán in the Department of Health, Society and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine, is seeking a qualified Postdoctoral Scholar for a 20% full-time equivalent (FTE) appointment during the 2026–2027 academic year. The position corresponds to an average of approximately 8 hours per week.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will collaborate with Dr. Payán and members of the CHIP Laboratory on research examining health policy development, implementation, and evaluation, with particular attention to state and local policy and the factors that shape policy implementation and outcomes. Research projects may span multiple areas of public health and health policy and may employ quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches.

The primary responsibilities of the position will involve manuscript development, literature synthesis, grant and proposal development, and collaboration on ongoing health policy research projects. The scholar will have opportunities to contribute substantively to peer-reviewed publications and research proposals while participating in an interdisciplinary health policy research environment.

The successful candidate will be expected to work independently with guidance from the principal investigator and collaborators; contribute intellectually to health policy implementation research; synthesize scientific and policy literature; contribute to manuscript and proposal development; and help advance dissemination of research findings for academic and policy audiences.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Health Policy, Public Health, Public Policy, Sociology, Political Science, Health Services Research, Implementation Science, or another related social, behavioral, or population science field.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in health policy research, particularly policy implementation and/or evaluation.
• Strong scientific writing, literature synthesis, and analytical skills.
• Training or experience with quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-methods research.
• Ability to contribute effectively to peer-reviewed manuscripts and research proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research while working collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary research team.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Pay

Salary for this position is between $71,491 - $85,736. Pay will be based on experience and qualifications.

Application Window

Open date: September 11, 2026. Next review date: Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. Final date: Monday, Nov 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• 3 required references (contact information only)

Job Location

Irvine, CA