Postdoctoral Research Scholar 0-5 yrs Experience

This position is budgeted at $6,000.00 per month and is non-negotiable. 

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The Bilingual Development in Context (BDC) Lab at San Diego State University (SDSU) investigates language development among bilingual children, particularly children who speak a first language such as Vietnamese or Spanish and who learn English early in childhood.

The BDC lab is creating a new full-time position to enhance our research efforts at the doctoral level.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will have three general roles: co-leading research projects including supervision of research assistants and data collection and analysis, contributing to research dissemination and new grant proposals, and providing support with lab administration.

Recurring Responsibilities 95%

• Coordinate/supervise data collection for R01 grant at partner sites (Fall 2026 semester)
• Communicate regularly with project co-lead
• Supervise completion of data cleaning and analysis tasks (e.g., scoring) (Fall 2026 semester)
• Contribute to publications and presentations as first or co-author
• Conduct literature review for preparation of a new grant proposal (Fall 2026 semester)
• Conduct preliminary data analysis for grant proposal(s) and publications (Fall 2026 semester)
• Prepare and submit grant proposals as principal investigator (e.g., F32, EC R21) for continued funding (Spring 2027 semester)
• Supervise RA regarding academic/project related issues
• Liaise with Communications Committee members
• Maintain physical presence in the lab to check in with RAs and answer questions
• Assist Operations Manager with administrative duties (e.g., approving timesheets, submitting reimbursements/expense reports, etc), as needed
• Participate in leadership meetings
• Participate in joint doctoral program cohort meetings

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Vietnamese proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• Knowledge of research environment techniques for maintaining confidential records, recruiting participants, collecting data and conducting interviews
• Knowledge of study participant recruitment and retention protocols, field data collection, entry management
• Knowledge and competency in computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge and understanding of health research conduct
• Ability to understand and follow research study protocols and procedures
• Ability to display strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with co-workers, subordinates and general community
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to be well organized, meet deadlines and display detail orientation
• Ability to possess good judgment and common sense
• Ability to display sensitivity to ethnically and culturally diverse individuals
• Ability to understand and follow posted work rules and procedures

Minimum Education & Experience

• A doctoral degree in Communication Disorders or related field
  
• 0-5 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualification & Special Skills

• PhD in Communication Disorders or related field
• Certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP)

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.