Postdoctoral Research Scholar 0-5 yrs Experience

Overview

Please note that this position offers a fixed monthly salary of $6,435.00, which is not subject to negotiation. The appointment is for a fixed-term contract commencing on the date of hire and ending on March 31, 2027.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The School of Public Health at San Diego State University fosters a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment committed to advancing public health through evidence-based inquiry and community engagement. The school is home to diverse faculty expertise across health management and policy, global health, epidemiology, environmental health, and biostatistics, with a strong emphasis on addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. The SDSU School of Public Health is ranked in the top 15% among Public Health Schools in the United States and 3rd in California by U.S. News and World Report. Our research infrastructure includes partnerships with local and state health agencies, and robust support for quantitative and qualitative research. Faculty and researchers benefit from a dynamic academic setting that encourages innovation, impactful scholarship, and translation of research into policy and practice—particularly in areas such as Medi-Cal expansion, immigrant health, and health systems financing. This environment provides an ideal foundation for conducting rigorous, policy-relevant research that informs public health decision-making in California and beyond.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

A research position is available as part of a California Department of Insurance-funded initiative to evaluate the effects of Medi-Cal expansions regardless of immigration status. This project aims to generate evidence on how these policy changes influence health insurance coverage, healthcare utilization, program financing, and employment patterns across the state. The researcher will receive strong training in health policy analysis, public insurance program evaluation, and quantitative methods using large administrative datasets. The project is designed to produce high-impact publications and inform future policy decisions at the state level.

Responsibilities

• Conducting Research (60%)
  Design and implement quantitative analyses to assess the impact of Medi-Cal expansions on coverage, utilization, financing, and employment.
  Clean, manage, and analyze large administrative and survey datasets (e.g., CHIS, ACS, Medi-Cal claims).
  Develop microsimulation models or other policy evaluation tools to estimate effects of coverage changes.
  Collaborate with faculty and policy partners to refine research questions and methodologies.
  Ensure compliance with data security protocols and IRB requirements.

• Publishing Research Findings (25%)
  Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals in health economics, public health, and policy.
  Present findings at academic conferences, policy briefings, and stakeholder meetings.
  Contribute to policy reports and white papers aimed at informing California health policy.
  Translate complex research results into accessible formats for non-academic audiences.

• Professional Development (10%)
  Participate in seminars, workshops, and training sessions focused on health policy analysis and advanced econometric methods.
  Engage with interdisciplinary teams across SDSU and external institutions.
  Receive mentorship in grant writing, academic publishing, and career planning.

• Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Qualifications

• Knowledge & Abilities:
  Deep knowledge in a specific research area.
  Proficiency in quantitative, quasi-experimental, or computational techniques.
  Skilled in analyzing and interpreting data (e.g., using SAS, STATA, MATLAB, R, Python).
  Ability to write papers and reports for peer-reviewed journals.
  Understanding of ethical guidelines in research.

• Experience:
  Experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing quasi-experiments in the relevant field.
  A strong record of publications in peer-reviewed journals
  Experience with statistical methods, software, or programming languages (e.g SAS, STATA, MATLAB, R, Python etc.) is often highly valued.

Additional Applicant Information

Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire. Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).

San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law. Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.

SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit. SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices. SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.