Postdoctoral Fellowship in Community-based Implementation Research

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Community-based Implementation
Research

Location: University of Pennsylvania - Honolulu, HI (remote work location)

Open Date: Nov 02, 2026

Deadline: Dec 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Mentors: David Mandell, ScD & Kelsie Okamura,
PhD, ABPP

Department: Psychiatry

Funding Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Hawaii State Department of Health

Number of Positions: 1

Open to applications from U.S. permanent residents and citizens only.

The Penn Center for Mental Health (CMH) at the University of
Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine invites applications for post-doctoral fellowships. This one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary training program at the intersection of implementation science, public policy, and mental health provides an excellent opportunity for social scientists to improve their knowledge of implementation science, behavioral economics, public mental health systems, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and how to conduct research that can address the needs of citizens at increased risk for mental and substance use disorders.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will support implementation research, applied implementation, and quality improvement initiatives. The fellow will work with existing community partnerships, including the Hawaii Department of Health, to conduct empirical research that benefits the community. The successful candidate will be able to navigate government and community agency systems, understand their own positionality and privilege in conducting research in underserved communities, and provide service to the community alongside research to support bidirectional learning and co-design.
The fellow will also build and maintain their own program of implementation science research that aligns with the Center for
Mental Health's values and mission, team initiatives, and community projects. This position is funded by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA) and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. The blended funding gives the fellow a chance to gain experience with both
NIH-funded research and state government contracts.

For more details on CMH faculty, resources, and projects, visit https://www.med.upenn.edu/cmh/

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop a program of research that advances implementation

science in youth mental health

• Actively participate in research project design, analysis, and

reporting

• Independently conduct mixed methods research studies
• Coordinate and assist project staff with data collection,

entry, and outcome reporting

• Collaborate with community partners to prepare and write grant

applications

• Submit and present research at local and national forums
• Supervise research assistant professional development through

weekly meetings and goal setting

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Psychology,

Social Work, or a related social service field from an accredited program

• At least two years of experience with empirical research and

program evaluation (supervised experience is acceptable)

• At least one year of experience with program implementation,

including evidence-based treatments, prevention, and/or education

• Knowledge of child welfare, juvenile justice, and/or mental

health systems

• Experience using quality improvement strategies, using data to

improve practice, and/or conducting translational research

• Experience with mixed methods, large datasets, and statistical

analysis in SPSS/R for quality improvement or evaluation purposes

• Experience using online database systems and/or survey

tools

Skills

• Strong project coordination skills and the ability to

prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines

• Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, and

organizational skills

• Comfortable collaborating with professionals from a range of

fields

• Oral and written fluency in English
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Commitment to confidentiality and a high level of service in

all interactions

• Strong ethics and commitment to working in an integrity-driven

environment

• Commitment to cultural humility, diversity, equity, and

inclusion

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit:

• A cover letter addressing your experience related to the

responsibilities above

• A curriculum vitae
• Two representative journal articles of your work
• Three reference letters submitted

To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/196851

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.
Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin
(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

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