Research Scholar - Health Policy Surveillance and Legal Epidemiology

About the role

The University of Houston Law Center (Law Center) invites applications for a non-tenure track Research Scholar position for Health Policy Surveillance and Legal Epidemiology. The successful candidate will be affiliated with the Law Center’s top-ranked Health Law & Policy Institute (HLPI).

Responsibilities

• Lead HLPI’s new research initiative using policy surveillance and legal epidemiology to support better-informed health laws and policies.
• Build and lead a research team consisting of research scholars, law students, and graduate students from other University of Houston colleges.
• Contribute to and advance HLPI’s initiatives by creating and implementing strategic plans to grow HLPI’s research portfolio in health policy surveillance and legal epidemiology.
• Build and foster external relationships with faculty at other universities and University of Houston colleges, advocates, policy-makers, funders, researchers, and government agencies.
• Diversify funding streams by writing proposals, securing grants, and fostering relationships with potential external clients.
• Manage the biennially updated Control Measures and Public Health Emergencies: A Texas Bench Book and participate in stakeholder meetings on control measures and public health emergencies.
• Attend national health conferences on behalf of HLPI, and conduct and present research in health law and policy.
• Assist HLPI with other activities that support HLPI’s mission as assigned, such as planning lecture series events and national conferences.
• May be given the opportunity to teach special courses on an overload basis, such as a course on health policy surveillance and legal epidemiology.

Qualifications

• Hold a J.D. degree (or the equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Have an excellent record of or potential for health law scholarship.

Benefits

This academic appointment is for 12 months, corresponding to UH’s fiscal year from the start of September to the end of the following August. The initial appointment may commence mid-year, with future renewal following the UH fiscal year. The benefits-eligible non-tenure track (NTT) appointment of the position will have a one-year contract period with no presumption of renewal. Reappointment for future years will depend on performance and need for the position.

Pay

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

The position has no regular teaching obligations at the Law Center, but may be given the opportunity to teach special courses on an overload basis, such as a course on health policy surveillance and legal epidemiology.

Contact Information

Please reference and review the University of Houston’s NTT Faculty Policy, available at this link: http://www.uh.edu/provost/faculty/current/non-tenure-track. Also applicable are the UHLC bylaws provisions relating to non-PE-NTT positions: https://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/P-T-CEAsections--UHLC-bylawsApril2018_ver1c_4_6_2018.pdf.

To apply, submit your application through the system of this posting and send Professor Jessica Mantel a courtesy email, attaching a resume or curriculum vitae. The University of Houston Law Center is located in close proximity to the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex and an international leader in health and life sciences. The Law Center boasts an accomplished and collegial faculty representing a wide range of backgrounds including over 16 who are members of the American Law Institute. The Law Center’s 2025 entering class has the strongest credentials in the school’s history. Since the fall of 2022, the Law Center has occupied a brand-new, world-class facility designed by award-winning architects. The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning, and strategic industry partnerships. Employees are expected to have a home address in the state of Texas for the duration of their appointments. Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates. All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained. The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.