The pay range for this position is $5,720.00 to $7,223.57 per month,

based on qualificaitons and experience.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies (CHEPS) is an interdisciplinary research center that supports impactful, policy relevant scholarship in the areas of health economics and social policy analysis. Housed in the College of Arts & Letters, CHEPS brings together faculty and graduate students engaged in complementary research in the areas of national defense policy, economic demography, the economics of crime and punishment, and the economics of risky health behaviors. The mission of the Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies (CHEPS) is to strengthen the community of scholars at SDSU conducting cutting-edge, externally funded research in health economics and public policy and to facilitate integration of faculty scholarship with our student research community. 

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Under supervision of an SDSU Faculty member, the Postdoctoral Research Scholar is intended to provide mentored advanced training to enhance professional skills and research independence in the Post-Doc’s academic discipline.

This position is designed to carry out applied microeconomics research on a myriad of directed, externally funded projects in the areas of:

• the economics of risky health behaviors, with particular attention to nicotine vaping (primary projects) as well as substance use, violence, and deaths of despair;
• low-skilled labor markets; and
• applied econometrics (with particular attention to the new dynamic difference-in-differences literature)

This position will have opportunities to co-author papers in economics, public policy, and medical or public health journals.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Research Projects 80%

• Serve on leadership team for developing new research ideas on the intended and unintended effects of U.S. e-cigarette regulations.
• Assist in data collection, coding, organizing, management, econometric analysis and dissemination.
• Analyze, interpret, and document research findings for review.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals and reports.
• Participate in manuscript writing for publication in journals and/or presentations.
• Help to lead weekly CHEPS Research Team meetings.
• Carry out administrative work associated with the project, including in (i) recruitment efforts for future pre-doctoral, PhD, and post-doctoral candidates, (ii) Center events, including research seminars, as needed.

Research Mentoring 10%

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate student research assistants involved in research papers.

Research Conferences 5%

• Attend and participate in economics conferences.

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

MINIMUM EDUCATION: 

Doctoral degree or equivalent in an appropriate field.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

None.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS

• Prior experience coding in Stata and R and familiarity with the new dynamic difference-in-differences literature is required.
• Prior experience working with existing CHEPS affiliates on empirical analysis and/or manuscript preparation on nicotine vaping-related projects.
• Prior experience with the following datasets: (i) the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, (ii) the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, (iii) Monitoring the Future, (iv) Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health, (v) Treatment Episode Data Set, (vi) Advan smartphone data, (vii) National Incident-Based Reporting System, (viii) Health and Retirement Survey, (ix) Current Population Survey, (x) Survey of Income and Program Participation, (xi) Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and many.
• Solid understanding of research design, experience with data collection and field work.
• Ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group/project at meetings and conferences.
• Experience of actively collaborating in the development of research articles for publication.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Must have completed PhD defense prior to beginning the position.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).

• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.

• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.

• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.

• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.