Job
Postdoctoral Fellow
Organization
NIH National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD and surrounding area
Scientific focus area
Genetics and Genomics, Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Health Communication and Behavior Unit, led by Dr. Susan Persky, is now seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join their team studying the psychological, behavioral, and clinical processes involved in how people understand, respond to, and act on genomic and health information.
About the position
How do people make sense of complex health information: a genetic risk result, unfamiliar genomic concepts, an unexpected diagnosis? How do we communicate that information in ways that support health-promoting decisions and behavior? How can emerging technologies support effective genomics translation into clinical and community settings?
We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to pursue these questions at the intersection of behavioral science, health communication, genomics, and emerging health technologies within the NIH Intramural Research Program. Our work spans experimental psychology, health communication science, and clinical translation research, applied to real-world problems in disease prevention, risk communication, and clinical decision-making.
Our current research topics include:
- The psychological and behavioral responses to genomic results and other health information, including how people interpret risk, respond to uncertainty, and make decisions for themselves and their families
- Health communication research, including how message-design, framing, and delivery format affect comprehension, decision-making, and stigmatization
- Translational studies examining how genomics and health information can be optimally integrated into clinical and community contexts
- Analysis of physiological, spatiotemporal, biospecimen, and/or wearable data as objective measures of behavior, mental processes, and health status
- Design and evaluation of communication approaches for precision health, including patient- and provider-facing tools
As a member of our lab, you will have the flexibility to develop research aligned with your own interests while contributing to our ongoing work. We offer a full-time, on-site position at the NIH Bethesda campus with competitive salary and benefits, individualized mentorship, and access to seminars, scientific communities, training programs, research infrastructure, and expertise across NHGRI and NIH.
Apply for this vacancy
What you'll need to apply
Interested applicants should email a current CV, a statement of their research interests, including their background, goals, and positional fit, as well as the names and contact information for three professional references to Dr. Susan Persky at the email below.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until this position is filled. Questions about this position or application process are welcome and should be directed to directly to Dr. Persky.
The Initial appointment of this position is 1 year. A start date of Fall 2026 is preferred.
Contact name
Susan Persky PhD
Contact email
Qualifications
Prospective candidates must have a doctoral degree, completed within the last 5 years, in psychology, public health, behavioral medicine, clinical science, communication, health services research, and/or a related field Strong training in quantitative experimental, clinical, or translational research methods is a must, as are strong quantitative and analytical skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills are also required
Candidates should have an interest in learning about interdisciplinary translational science and precision health. Experience in one or more of the following would be valuable, but is not required:
- Clinical research or clinical trial experience
- Training or experience working with genetic data and genomic concepts and/or data
- Experience with physiological, biospecimen, or wearable data
- Familiarity with computational, AI/ML, or immersive research methods
Disclaimer/Fine Print
Selection for this position is based solely on merit. The NIH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or union membership status, and encourages applications from qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply. NIH welcomes foreign nationals with the exception of individuals from this list.
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