Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,654 full-time undergraduates and 5,072 graduate and professional students. Ranked 37 among national universities, Boston College has 923 full-time and 1,336 FTE faculty, 2,822 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.9 billion.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow -Center for Social Innovation

FTE Range $66,000 - $75,813 based on experience

The
Postdoctoral Research Fellow will study child mental health in the United
States, focusing on how children, youth, and families experience stress during
periods of transition, such as in the aftermath of severe weather events or
other crises. The fellow will conduct qualitative and quantitative research to
understand risk and protective factors influencing mental health outcomes for
children, as well as the role of family dynamics and support systems during
these challenging times. This includes examining the use of digital technology
and social media, as well as access to essential services such as psychosocial
support, education, healthcare, and community resources for both children and
caregivers.

The
research will aim to understand how youth utilize the tools available to them
to support their health and wellbeing during challenging periods of transition,
including formal supports such as mental health care and informal supports like
social networks. It will also identify strategies to strengthen resilience and
promote long-term well-being for children and families, aligning with UNICEF's commitment
to ensure every child grows up in a safe, nurturing environment with access to
mental health and psychosocial support. Findings will inform policy and
advocacy recommendations to advance effective and efficient strategies to
support the health and well-being of children. The ultimate goal is to help
build systems that protect children's mental health during crises, transitions,
and beyond.

The
Postdoctoral Research Fellow will work closely with Boston College's Barry
Family Professor in Social Work, Dr. Christopher P. Salas-Wright, on
qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and dissemination
efforts related to child mental health and how children and families experience
stress during periods of transition. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will also
work with UNICEF USA Senior Director of Research, Evaluation, and Research
Partnerships, Dr. Anne Day Leong, and Dr. Salas-Wright on policy
recommendations, research translation, and other dissemination and local
community, national, and international research impact objectives.

Essential Function:

•  Conduct qualitative research with children and parents,
  including designing interview guides, conducting qualitative interviews, coding
  qualitative data, and writing scholarly manuscripts and reports;
• Conduct
  quantitative research with a focus on children, youth, and families, including
  the collection of survey data, data analysis, and writing scholarly manuscripts
  and reports;
• Collaborate with Dr. Salas-Wright and Dr. Day Leong in dissemination
  efforts, including community presentations and the dissemination of reports to
  relevant professionals and organizations working with children, youth, and
  families;
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners and
  stakeholders in the Eastern US (e.g., Boston, DC-area).

At the
conclusion of the fellowship, the postdoctoral fellow is expected to deliver a
public policy-relevant report reflecting both qualitative and quantitative
research on the above topics. UNICEF USA will use the research report to inform
its advocacy efforts.

Although the Postdoctoral
Research Fellow can maintain a regular business hours schedule most of the
time, there will be a need to conduct some work in the evenings or on weekends.
Working conditions for physical demands are limited to the use of the computer,
the use of the telephone, and the ability to travel to community organizations.
Some travel within the United States is required.

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field such
  as social work, public health, or clinical or community psychology required;
• clinical
  licensure in social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy preferred;
  
• 2-3 years of experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research,
  including in-depth interviews and focus groups required;
• 2-3 years of experience
  with qualitative and quantitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Stata,
  Mplus) required; Strong oral and written communication skills in English
  required;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with an array of communities
  and stakeholders;
• Experience working with children, youth, and families is
  preferred; Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team
  environment required; Strong organizational and project management skills
  required.

Boston College offers a broad and competitive range of benefits depending on your job classification eligibility:

• Tuition remission for Employees
• Tuition remission for Spouses and Children who meet eligibility requirements
• Generous Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Low-Cost Life Insurance
• Eligibility for both University-Funded 401k and Employer-Sponsored 403b Retirement Plans
• Paid Holidays Annually
• Generous Sick and Vacation Pay
• Additional benefits can be found on 

Boston College conducts pre-employment background checks as part of the hiring process.

Boston College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected category, including disability and protected veteran status. Boston College's Notice of Nondiscrimination can be viewed