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The Collaborative on Media and Messaging for Health and Social Policy (COMM HSP, or commhsp.org) team at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate. We are seeking an independent researcher with interests at the intersection of communication, health equity, and policy. The postdoctoral associate will work closely with Dr. Sarah Gollust (School of Public Health) and Dr. Rebekah Nagler (Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication) on a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded project called “Developing rapidly responsive community-engaged research on media-messaging and narrative-change strategies to promote health and racial equity.” COMM HSP is an interdisciplinary team of researchers across three institutions who study how media and messaging shape opinions, attitudes, and behaviors with the goal of understanding the ways that communication can help to advance health and racial equity through policy. The postdoctoral associate will be based at the University of Minnesota (UMN) site, with opportunities to pursue collaborative research opportunities both at UMN and with other COMM-affiliated researchers.

The initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second year. Salary range is $60,000-$65,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The work is expected to be hybrid (both online and in-person activities).

Responsibilities:

Specific position responsibilities will include (but are not limited to) assisting in conducting surveys and experiments, conducting news media and advertising content analysis, analyzing publicly available public opinion data on relevant health and social policies, and supporting engagement with state and local community partners. The postdoctoral associate will have access to a wide variety of data resources collected via COMM HSP. There is no teaching associated with the position, but the postdoctoral associate is expected to be an active contributor to COMM HSP activities. The postdoctoral associate will receive mentorship and training in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, community-engaged research, manuscript preparation, and grant writing; they also will receive dedicated time to pursue their own scholarship.

Required Qualifications: 

• A doctoral degree (earned by the position start date) in health communication, public health, health policy, or related social/behavioral science fields. 
• Strong training and proficiency in quantitative data analysis is required. Experience in qualitative and/or mixed methods research is preferred.
• Interest in conducting rigorous research in a fast-paced, policy-relevant, community-engaged environment.
• Strong written and presentation skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively within a team environment. 
• Candidates with a scholarly record demonstrating a focus on health, racial, and/or social equity are especially encouraged to apply.
• Candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been underrepresented in health-related research, are strongly encouraged to apply. 

How To Apply