Overview
Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Department/Area: Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Lee Kum Sheung (LKS) Center for Health and Happiness in the Department for Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to conduct relevant research and work with the Center Director, Dr. Vish Viswanath, and the team on scientific and programmatic initiatives. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow should have a primary interest that aligns with the LKS Center’s mission to build a rigorous and interdisciplinary science of positive health, happiness, and well-being with a focus on health equity, and to translate the science to influence practice and policy. They should have experience conducting research that seeks to understand well-being in the broadest sense including the interconnections between social, psychological, and physical health. Other areas of interest for the Center include the measurement of well-being and the translation of scientific findings to influence public health practice and policy.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will support research-related activities of the Center, including study design and field-based data collection (either in person, or through digital data collection), large-scale secondary data analyses, data visualization, manuscript preparation and publication, grant writing, and oral presentations. The Center is developing a variety of activities and expects the Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work with the Center Director and the team in areas such as:
· Curriculum development for workshops
· Conceptualization and implementation of workshops and symposia
· Community-engaged research
· Well-being and new technologies such as AI, social media and bid data
They will work with the Center Director to mentor students involved in Center activities and engage with relevant partners and potential donors within the community and at the national and international levels.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will work closely with and report to Dr. Vish Viswanath, Center Director. They will receive an annual evaluation of progress and will be supported in their career development. This is a one-year appointment, renewable for up to two additional years contingent upon performance—quality and impact of contributions and collaborations in service of the Center’s mission—and funding.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Research-related (60%)
o Lead a portfolio of research activities including original research and projects congruent with the Center’s research agenda.
o Demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge in analyzing data, writing, publishing (e.g., in peer-reviewed journals), and disseminating science (e.g., scientific conferences).
o Supervise research staff and provide mentorship to student interns at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Programmatic support (40%)
Assist in scientific leadership for the Center. This can include activities such as:
o Support the implementation of seminars, workshops, and international conferences/symposia sponsored by the Center, ensuring scientific rigor.
o Engage with community partners or other investigators interested in learning about research at the Center or partnering with the Center.
o Assist with course development at Harvard Chan and/or in ExecEd, HarvardX, or short courses.
o Aid in the development of measurement tools and the creation and updating of repositories of well-being measures, resilience measures, and evidence-based interventions.
o Participate in the evaluation of grant proposals or student funding awarded by the Center.
o Contribute to grant writing and development activities connected to the Center’s mission.
Basic Qualifications
The candidate should possess the following:
· doctoral-level degree in public health, social sciences, or a related discipline
· proof of successfully defending dissertation
· strong research skills, including data collection, advanced analytical skills, and scientific writing
· publication record, with significant contributions to peer-reviewed publications beyond thesis papers
· ability to lead research teams and manage research projects, including supervising research staff, coordinating with administrators regarding budget and staffing, and ensuring research activities meet ethical guidelines
· expertise in measuring well-being and resilience
· excellent planning, analytical, organizational, communication, and decision-making skills
· ability to define and drive projects to completion while effectively collaborating with others
· enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research focused on well-being and public health
· supervision or mentorship experience
· demonstrated interest or experience in program development and community engagement
· preference for previous experience developing science-based curriculum.
Schedule: Full-time, hybrid with a minimum of three on-campus days per week, remote work not permitted
Term: One year from date of hire, with possible extension up to two additional years, contingent upon performance and contribution to the center’s mission
Salary Range: $65,000—73,000 based on qualifications and experience
Required Documents: CV, cover letter, 2 academic papers, list of references
Min/Max Number of References: 3
Directions: Letters of recommendation – required when selected for a short list
Instructions for Reference Providers: Letters of recommendation are due within 1 week of being notified about the short-list status
Application Deadline: December 2, 2025
Administrative Contact: Kelsey Torres, Assistant Director of Operations, Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, kelsey_torres@hsph.harvard.edu
Please apply via the ARIES portal at https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15436.
Review of applications will begin immediately.
About Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health traces its roots to public health activism at the beginning of the last century, a time of energetic social reform. From the start, faculty were expected to commit themselves to research as well as teaching. In 1946, no longer affiliated with the medical school, HSPH became an independent, degree-granting body.
Today, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to educate new generations of global health leaders and produce powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere.
We work together as a community of leading scientists, educators, and students to take innovative ideas from the laboratory to people’s lives, not only making scientific breakthroughs, but also working to change individual behaviors, public policies, and health care practices.
