Research Fellow in Global Mental Health Implementation Science

Position Description

We invite applicants for two postdoctoral research fellow positions in the Mental Health for All Lab (MHFAL) at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. The work of the MHFAL lab is focused on the generation of knowledge and its effective utilization with the goal of contributing to the reduction of the global burden of suffering from mental health problems through novel approaches such as digital technology or task-sharing for scale-up of proven interventions.

We welcome applications from recent PhD graduates who are interested in these or related fields, particularly those who may bring a new technology or perspective to bear on the work in the lab. A key focus for this position will involve supporting the scientific and research activities for studies focused on leveraging innovative digital technologies for scaling up proven psychosocial interventions across underserved settings in the United States and globally. These research efforts involve participating in the development, evaluation, and implementation of task-shared mental health services in primary care settings and other community settings in the United States.

The successful candidates will work with Dr. John Naslund to develop an independent research project within the scope of the lab's research focus on implementation science and mental health services research. In addition to carrying out mental health implementation research, the successful candidate will be expected to apply for fellowship funding, contribute to the writing of grants and manuscripts, participate in teaching and mentoring of lab members as needed, and otherwise contribute to overall lab operations in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement an independent research project that extends and complements the work of the lab; write and submit proposals to fund the research; secure and maintain IRB and regulatory approvals; conduct analysis, publish findings, and disseminate research findings through presentations at conferences and scientific meetings;
2. act as scientific liaison for day-to-day oversight of research activities between Harvard Medical School and the project sites and collaborators, including conducting and leading data analyses across the study components; ability to manage virtual meetings and frequent travel to the project sites is required;
3. design intervention materials, training content, and data collection instruments; and lead the implementation of study protocols; monitor data collection and quality in the field;
4. support capacity building within the team at Harvard Medical School and at the project sites through presenting work to local stakeholders and research collaborators, providing guidance and mentorship to research staff involved in different aspects of the research project, and engaging stakeholders at the study sites and surrounding communities in dissemination of the project findings.

Location

This position is based in Boston, MA and involves frequent travel to field sites in the U.S. and internationally.

Application deadline

5/31/2026

Duration

This is a one-year term position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance, business need, and continued funding to support the position.

Salary and Benefits

This position is salaried and benefits eligible. Information regarding postdoctoral fellow salary, which is determined by the number of years post PhD, and benefits can be found at https://postdoc.hms.harvard.edu/guidelines.

Basic Qualifications

Applicants must have a doctoral degree in a relevant field which may include but is not limited to statistics/bioinformatics, implementation science, health economics, social work, sociology, clinical psychology, or epidemiology.

Applicants who will receive the doctoral diploma by May 31, 2026 may apply.

Additional Qualifications

• Record of scholarly publication, including first-authored scientific journal articles.
• Expertise in research design and data analysis, including any of the following: clinical trials, implementation science, economic evaluation, digital health, statistical analysis for clinical trials, big data analysis.
• Demonstrated track record engaging in fieldwork, involving meeting with stakeholders including study participants, clinicians, community members, and researchers.
• Experience working in or collaborating with researchers in community settings, and in particular, in underserved and low-resource areas.
• Current knowledge of mental illnesses, mental health problems and service interventions to address these disorders in low-resource settings.
• Clinical, professional, or research experience within disaster response/humanitarian settings in the United States or elsewhere