NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow

Profile

We are seeking a candidate with doctoral training in one or more of the following areas: endocrinology, developmental biology, cancer biology, epidemiology, toxicology, chemistry, or informatics, with a focus on environmental health. Applicants should demonstrate an excellent academic and research record and an interest in understanding the roles of chemicals in carcinogenesis and hormonally-mediated toxicity.  Experience with breast cancer biology, computational toxicology, epidemiology, or statistics are assets.

Work in a multi-disciplinary mission-driven team with experts in epidemiology, toxicology, chemistry, computer science, and community-based research, all focused on impartial research to identify and reduce environmental hazards to human health. See Silent Spring Institute’s publications

here

and staff bios

here

to see the range of projects.

Collaborate with investigators at Harvard, Northeastern, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, University of Illinois, US EPA, US CDC, and other top-tier research institutions, as well as with diverse environmental and health advocacy groups.

The postdoc will work on one or more of the following projects:

Develop Adverse Outcome Pathway or similar causal models for breast cancer. This research is part of an international effort using

computational biology, toxicology, and systematic review approaches to

identify biological pathways in cancer etiology

Combine experimental and computational approaches to

develop novel chemical safety screening methods

that capture biological mechanisms related to endocrine disruption and carcinogenesis.  Many questions can also be addressed using publicly available data, for example from US EPA’s ToxCast testing program.

Contribute to data collection and analysis for ongoing health studies of exposed communities in projects funded by NIEHS and ATSDR.

Review mechanisms of immunotoxicology, including from PFAS, and contribute to research about the role of immunotoxicology in carcinogenesis and autoimmune disorders.

Apply novel approaches in

biomonitoring and exposure assessment

including metabolomics and other omics techniques to identify early effect markers associated with chemical exposures.

Report-back of biomonitoring and household exposure data to participants in 4 NIEHS-funded cohorts through 3 NIEHS grants.

This research fellowship represent a unique opportunity to develop new skills in social sciences and community based participatory research in addition to pursuing research on chemical carcinogenesis.  The candidate should have an interest in public health, community-based participatory research and the social context of environmental health. This two-year appointment is part of the NIEHS Training Program, “Transdisciplinary Training at the Intersection of Environmental Health Science and Social Science” (EH SS), co-directed by Silent Spring Institute and Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute (SSEHRI). This training program prepares scientists for successful research careers at the nexus of environmental health, social science and policy. Fellows will be expected to publish and develop proposals within their scientific area of expertise and will also have opportunities to contribute to interdisciplinary publications and projects related to environmental justice, communications, science policy, and ethics.

The postdoctoral fellow will spend 2/3 time at Silent Spring Institute and 1/3 at Northeastern University. The fellow will collaborate with Silent Spring Institute scientists on one or more ongoing research projects and will have access to cutting edge resources and technologies at Northeastern University and other collaborating institutions.

Silent Spring Institute

Situated just outside Boston with a staff of about 25, we recently celebrated our 27th anniversary as the nation’s leading scientific research organization focused on breast cancer prevention through environmental research and outreach programs. Our research focuses on women’s health and environmental pollutants, especially hormone disruptors and carcinogens. We develop and apply new technologies to differentiate hazardous and safer chemicals, to measure exposures, and to identify effective exposure reduction strategies. Funding is from the NIH, EPA, and other federal and state agencies, as well as private foundations and charitable contributions. This is an opportunity to be part of a nationally recognized, innovative, mission-driven team. 

Northeastern University

The Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, at Northeastern since 2012, continues the legacy of the Contested Illnesses Research Group at Brown University, which began in 2000, in training graduate students and postdocs in community-based participatory research aimed at transforming and improving environmental health.  By linking environmental health science, sociology, science and technology studies, and work with CBOs, SSEHRI develops novel approaches to studying environmental health questions. It currently has 6 core faculty8 affiliate faculty, 2 postdocs, 8 doctoral students, 1 MPH student, and 6 undergraduates. Both the Silent Spring Institute and Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute have extensive collaborations with many breast cancer, environmental health, and environmental justice organizations.  Our website is here: 

northeastern.edu/environmentalhealth/

This position is appointed through Northeastern University and offers an NIH stipend and benefits package.

To apply, please do ALL of the following:

Send an application packet containing a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, writing samples (published or unpublished), and graduate and undergraduate transcripts to Professor Phil Brown by email at

p.brown@northeastern.edu

AND to

careers@silentspring.org

(put “T32 postdoc” in subject line).

Send three letters of reference, including one from the dissertation advisor, to Professor Phil Brown by email at

p.brown@northeastern.edu

AND to

careers@silentspring.org

We are currently seeking applicants for one position to start in September 2022.

Please note that NIH requires recipients to be US citizens or permanent residents. 

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the search will remain open until the position is closed or filled. Questions? Write to Ruthann Rudel 

at rudel@silentspring.org.

Company info

Silent Spring Institute
Phone : 617.332.4288
Fax : 617.332.4284