Description

The Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the School of Public Health at Brown University invites applications for a new research faculty position to focus on novel research strategies for evaluation and prevention of violence as a public health problem at the Assistant Professor level in the University’s research scholar track. This non-tenure track faculty appointment includes the possibility of a secondary appointment in another department and will be affiliated with the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health (CDH). 

Applicants should have demonstrated experience in and passion for violence prevention research and firearm injury prevention research. Special consideration is given to applicants with existing experience in the use of digital technologies for violence monitoring, evaluation, and intervention, particularly through an equity lens.

The non-tenure track faculty appointment will be within the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the School of Public Health at Brown University, with the possibility of a secondary appointment in another department, and will be affiliated with the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health (CDH).

The School of Public Health at Brown University is a highly ranked, CEPH-accredited school in one of the nation's leading universities. It is also among the top five schools of public health in NIH funding. The Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences is an internationally recognized, multidisciplinary academic department dedicated to understanding and improving the health behaviors and social contexts that most strongly impact population health and well-being.

The Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health is a hub where creative minds across diverse disciplines and perspectives collaboratively design, test, and deploy digital health projects to address society’s most pressing health challenges. Relevant to this position, CDH-affiliated faculty have an excellent track record of foundation and federal funding for technology-informed research on relational, physical, and firearm violence — ranging from social media, to apps, to text-messaging. They collaborate closely with hospital and community-based researchers, including an NIGMS-funded P20 focused on injury prevention and control. They also collaborate closely with the School of Public Health’s Information Futures Lab, which is dedicated to combating misinformation, data deficits, and outdated communication practices.

The successful candidate will have expertise in study design and data analysis in the areas of violence prevention, firearm injury prevention, technology-informed behavior change, or closely related topics. They will bring their own research with them and support the development of a larger program of research in digital health and violence prevention, including growing the School’s focus on interdisciplinary science and partnering with faculty in computer science, engineering, public policy, humanities, and medicine. They will join a robust group of faculty and research scientists in the School of Public Health and beyond, and have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty across the University in a broad range of domains including addictions, health care policy and research, biostatistics and data science, epidemiology, and global health.

Applicants for the Assistant Professor Rank should exhibit a potential to become top caliber researchers. They should demonstrate autonomy in developing their own research agenda and the potential to obtain competitive funding. This position provides full funding for up to three years, during which the faculty member is expected to develop an independent program of externally funded research, including establishing a focused research program that attracts funding in the form of grants, contracts, and/or fellowships.

The position will be available as of July 1, 2023.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, MD) in a relevant discipline, such as public health, implementation science, epidemiology, anthropology, behavioral health science, psychology, criminology, or health informatics;
• Evidence of rigorous research training and experience; and
• Demonstration of a strong capacity to secure external funding.

Brown University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The Department welcomes and encourages candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply. The Department encourages individuals with a history of mentoring students from underrepresented groups and those with a commitment to supporting diversity and inclusive practices in education, research, and creative activity to apply. Furthermore, the Department also welcomes applications from candidates with an interest in health and health care equity and with a history of engagement with health care organizations, community-based organizations and advocacy groups, and/or government to accomplish health care quality and equity objectives.

To learn more and apply, click here.