Job Summary

The Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements, and Population Health Equity at the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health aims to unite diverse partners to generate and translate evidence, accelerate antiracism solutions, and transform the health of communities locally, nationally, and globally.

In support of its mission, the Ubuntu Center is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow for two-calendar years, with a target starting date of September 1, 2024. The postdoctoral fellow will work directly with the Ubuntu Center’s director, Dr. Sharrelle Barber, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and will also have the opportunity to work with other affiliated faculty of the center, whose research expertise include racial residential segregation, urban agriculture and land-based resistance; policing and community health, racial trauma and healing, systems science, environmental racism and justice, spatial statistics, and Black maternal health inequities. The postdoctoral fellow will primarily work on the Illuminating and Addressing Healthcare’s Role in Perpetuating Structural Racism (ISR) project, a three-year, multi-site initiative sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The ISR project intends to synthesize and build on existing research to clearly illuminate the historical roots of structural racism in the healthcare system and the modern-day structures, policies, and institutional practices that have resulted in and perpetuated structural racism and a culture of white supremacy. To accomplish this, our team will: 1) Cultivate a diverse network inclusive of scholars, community members, organizers and activists, and healthcare practitioners engaged in antiracism efforts; 2) Develop a framework to understand structural racism and racial capitalism in the healthcare industry and identify potential entry points for antiracism action utilizing systems science and organizing tools; 3) Translate and disseminate project learnings to key audiences through a collaborative, multimedia narrative strategy; and 4) Co-develop organizing tools that build power and agency towards accountability and policy transformation.

These activities will produce a roadmap for future research, funding, and, most importantly, bold action towards dismantling structural racism in the healthcare industry.
The postdoctoral fellow will also have the opportunity to develop their own independent research portfolio. Additional expectations include development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and participation with community and advocacy activities related to the Center’s work. The candidates will also be supported in developing grant applications for external funding.

We welcome applications from scholars with doctoral degrees in public health, healthcare, and health-related disciplines, including healthcare policy and management, social epidemiology, biostatistics, community health, and environmental health, as well as related fields, such as history, geography, sociology, anthropology, statistics, or demography, among others and whose research interests focus explicitly on links between racism and population health. We also welcome scholars who use quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods or systems science methodologies. While we encourage applications from all interested scholars, preference will be given to scholars who are from groups that have been historically excluded within the academy.

Essential Functions

• Participation in ISR Project and independent research.
• Development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
• Development of grant applications for external funding.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral Degree (PhD, ScD, DrPH or equivalent) in public health or related discipline.
• Recognition of the shared dignity and humanity of all individuals and communities.
• Prior experience with multisite research with a diverse set of academic and community partners.
• Experience and comfort working alongside community organizations, organizers, and scholars.
• Record of scholarly productivity including publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific meetings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrates kindness, compassion, integrity, and commitment to anti-racism and liberation-based approaches.
• Courage and commitment to personal growth and self-discovery in anti-racist practices and methodologies.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table

Location

• Hybrid/Flexible Work Arrangement – Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as exempt, grade I. Compensation for this grade ranges from a minimum of $41,120.00 to a maximum of $61,680.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review. 

We encourage you to explore Drexel's Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on our compensation framework.

You can also find valuable information about our benefits in the Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume, cover letter, official doctoral transcript, statement of research interests and contact information for three references when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.