"Postdoctoral Research Associate PH#306"

The Mindfulness for Health Equity Lab (mHEAL) directed by Dr. Shufang Sun, Assistant Professor at Brown University School of Public Health and Brown Alpert Medical School, provides an outstanding environment for interdisciplinary behavioral health research across public health, counseling/clinical psychology, and biomedical and behavioral science. Dr. Sun and her team are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate interested in intervention research development and evaluation related to LGBTQ+ health research and mindfulness-based interventions. The duration of the position is at least 1 year (100% FTE), with possibility of renewal depending on funding and satisfactory progress. Specifically, the postdoctoral research associate will work with Professor Sun, her team at Brown University, and a team of investigators from institutions across the U.S. to support a randomized controlled trial research. The intervention to be evaluated, called "Mindfulness-based Queer Resilience (MBQR)", was developed by Professor Sun and her team and tailored to LGBTQ health promotion, will be delivered via the internet and aim to enhance mental and sexual health with racially diverse young adult gay, bisexual, and queer men. This research is supported by NIH to investigate the potential utility of mindfulness as a public health tool for HIV prevention and sexual and mental health promotion with sexual minority men. In the next phase of a randomized controlled trial, we will heavily recruit Black and Latino/x men and other sexual minority men of color.

The main work of the postdoctoral research associate will be support the RCT of MBQR, while there are other ongoing research projects in Professor Sun’s lab that may fit the their career development goals and they may choose to devote 10-20% of their effort in for the purpose of research experience, publications, and career advancement. These optional projects may include mindfulness-based eating behavior intervention research with sexual minority women at risk for obesity, mindfulness intervention research for women with gestational diabetes, and HIV and mental health research (intervention and non-intervention) with transgender and gender nonconforming people in the U.S. and China.

Responsibilities of the postdoctoral fellow include: (a) oversee assessment, data management and data cleaning of the RCT of MBQR; (b) conduct exit-interviews with Dr. Sun and supervise qualitative data analysis upon training; (c) collaborate with Dr. Sun and other members of the lab to analyze data from a recently completed clinical trial of MBQR and/or quantitative and qualitative data from the lab; (d) draft manuscripts as first author or assist paper preparation as co-author for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations; (e) assist with community-facing aspects of the research, such as recruitment and dissemination of research findings to relevant communities (LGBTQ+ organizations, mental health providers, mindfulness teachers); (f) provide clinical and diversity support for MBQR intervention as needed; (g) actively participate in lab meetings and contribute to a lab environment that emphasizes diversity, community learning, knowledge and resource sharing, and strength-based approach to career advancement.

Position Requirements: PhD, ScD, or DrPH in Counseling/Clinical Psychology, Mental Health, Social and Behavioral Science, Community Health, or related field in public health. The successful candidate will have (a) training in behavioral/mental health intervention research; (b) experience and strong interest in working with LGBTQ+ communities, and experience with LGBTQ+ people of color is highly valued; (c) strong interpersonal and program management skills; (d) content knowledge in mindfulness, internet-based behavioral health research; (e) programming skills (experience with R, STATA, or SAS are particularly desirable) and data analysis skills (quantitative and qualitative); (f) peer-reviewed publications; (g) strong writing skills.

Candidates should apply with a cover letter (summarizing research experience, qualifications, and career goals, as well as addressing the reasons for their interest in the position and their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and/or how they intend to show this commitment in future work through scholarship, teaching, mentoring, service and community engagement), curriculum vitae, and sample publication or equivalent.