Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity – NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Epidemiology

Position available: A one- or two-year postdoctoral fellowship position is available at the Center for Opioid Epidemiology & Policy (COEP) within the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

COEP aims to conduct high-impact research to inform policy, social, health services, community, and treatment approaches to reduce overdose and substance-related harms through four areas of focus, overall and across intersectional subgroups:

  • examining the social and policy drivers of population-level rates of overdose and disparities in overdose rates.
  • evaluating the impact of existing and evolving service, social, policy, and health service solutions to the epidemic to build health equity.
  • integrating advanced analytical and data science techniques with epidemiologic research to more precisely measure, forecast, and understand the drivers of overdose and related harms.
  • investigate the links between substance use and related health and social concerns including violence, infectious disease, and evolving crises.

COEP is a trusted research center that serves as a central source of research on the United States’ rapidly shifting opioid overdose epidemic. COEP shares evidence and metrics with researchers, policymakers, and the public nationally and internationally. Additional information is available on the COEP webpage.

Qualifications: Applicants must have a doctorate in epidemiology or a related field (e.g., biostatistics, health policy, psychology, sociology, anthropology) and have excellent qualifications in, and demonstrated commitment to, epidemiologic research related to the COEP areas of focus outlined above. Applicants without prior experience studying substance use, but demonstrating excellent research skills and a desire to pursue research in this field will also be considered.

Responsibilities: The fellowship will focus on mentored, applied research on the nature and prevention of substance use from a public health perspective. The specific content of the fellowship will be tailored to meet the goals and interests of the fellow. However, particular emphasis will be placed on research on the social and policy determinants of opioid use, misuse, and overdose, as well as the impact that opioid-related harms may have on the health of local populations. The fellow will participate in ongoing research and lead studies of their own, with mentoring from COEP faculty such as Dr. Magdalena Cerdá, Dr. Noa Krawczyk, Dr. Amanda Bunting, Dr. Sam Friedman, Dr. Ellicott Matthay, Dr. Bennett Allen, and Dr. Suzan Walters. Specific opportunities exist to participate in studies on the impact that laws and policies aimed at regulating the opioid supply have on prescribing, opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and overdose; studies on the impact of cannabis legalization on substance use and injuries; studies on the impacts that state and local harm reduction laws and programs have on overdose; intersectional stigma as it relates to substance use and related harms; implementation science; and studies on the impact of Big Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic on overdose risk, among others. The fellow will also have the opportunity to initiate new projects and develop grant proposals.

Professional environment: The fellowship will take place within the NYU Center on Opioid Epidemiology and Policy (COEP), which is part of the NYU Department of Population Health. Faculty members at COEP and in the Division of Epidemiology in the Department of Population Health conduct cutting-edge work on the social determinants of substance use, the impact of state and national policies on substance use, and the effects of different treatment regimens and medications on substance use disorders. Outstanding training opportunities for multidisciplinary research in substance use epidemiology are available in the Department of Population Health, which has divisions in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Healthcare Delivery Science, Medical Ethics, Health and Behavior, and Comparative Effectiveness and Decision Science. Multidisciplinary research on substance use is also fostered by the presence of the NYU Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR), a NIH-funded interdisciplinary research center that focuses on public health issues related to HIV, hepatitis C, and drug use. State-of-the-art research resources, including extensive biostatistical/bioinformatics support, are available. The fellow will be integrated into a vibrant and diverse community of analysts, doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff in COEP. As a member of COEP, the fellow will have access to a range of career development opportunities, monthly open analyst meetings, journal clubs, seminars, and COEP research meetings and high-profile events.     

To apply: Please email a cover letter describing relevant research experience and your specific interest in this fellowship; a detailed CV; and names/contact information for three references to Brittany Griffin, Senior Research Coordinator, at brittany.griffin@nyulangone.org.