Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to join a research team led by Dr. Claire Margerison in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (http://www.epi.msu.edu/faculty/margerison/)/. This position will be part of the prestigious Michigan State University (MSU) Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholars Program, which is designed to provide an outstanding environment for recent PhD graduates to receive state-of-the-art training in research areas covered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agency.

Dr. Margerison’s research focuses on understanding the determinants of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in women’s health, particularly before, during, and after pregnancy. Her research seeks to identify and assess policy changes and prevention strategies to eliminate disparities in perinatal health.

The Margerison Research Group is currently 1) investigating impacts of public policies related to employment, child care, and financial wellbeing on pregnancy and postpartum health and health services utilization and 2) examining intersections between mental health, substance use, cardiovascular and metabolic health during pregnancy and postpartum. The Postdoctoral Scholar will, in consultation with Dr. Margerison, choose one of these topics and lead a research project in that area. The scholar is expected to produce at least four first-author publications over two years and to develop an NIH proposal (e.g., a K99/R00) for submission no later than the beginning of their second year. The scholar will receive one-on-one mentoring and advanced training from Dr. Margerison in relevant areas including proposal-writing and professional development. The scholar will also have ample opportunities to collaborate with other members of our research team as well as faculty and students at MSU, to share their research within MSU and at national meetings, and to receive advanced statistical training as necessary.

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the College of Human Medicine at MSU offers a dynamic research environment with faculty working in drug dependence, cardiovascular, women’s health, reproductive, perinatal, pediatric, environmental, and neurodevelopment epidemiology and areas of biostatistics including causal inference, trials, cost-effectiveness, high-dimensional data, longitudinal, Bayesian methods, and statistical genetics.

This is a one-year, full-time position, with continuation into year two contingent on performance, progress, and compliance with program expectations. 

Review of applications will begin October 31, 2026 and continue until the position has been filled. For priority consideration, please submit applications by October 31, 2026.

Professional misconduct review

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Terminal -Epidemiology, health services research, or a related field

Minimum Requirements

• A doctoral degree or equivalent in epidemiology, health services research, or a related field
• Demonstrated scientific writing ability
• Proficiency in data management and advanced quantitative analysis of large administrative and survey data using either SAS, R, or Stata
• Ability to work effectively and collegially with colleagues
• Excellent time-management skills and ability to work independently on multiple projects simultaneously

Desired Qualifications

• Subject-matter knowledge in one or more of the following: perinatal epidemiology, social epidemiology, health services research, health policy
• Experience with quasi-experimental analytic methods, such as difference-in-difference and synthetic control methods OR
• Experience managing and analyzing claims data, particularly with targeted trial designs

Required Application Materials

Applicants should submit a cover letter describing research interests and career goals, curriculum vitae, names and contact information for three references, and a writing sample.

Review of Applications Begins On

10/31/2026

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.