Postdoctoral Fellowship in Infant Mental Health Prevention Science

The University of Maryland School of Social Work UMSSW) seeks a postdoctoral fellow in infant mental health prevention science for a minimum of two years starting on or before July 1, 2024. Dr. Lisa Berlin will serve as principal mentor. Dr. Berlin is the Alison L. Richman Professor of Children and Families, a University of Maryland MPower Professor, and lead editor of the Society for Research in Child Development Social Policy Report, a journal dedicated to leveraging child and family research to support evidence-based policy development.

This position will provide broad, cross-disciplinary exposure along with deep involvement in an array of mentored and independent activities that will strongly promote early career development.

The fellow will join the Companeros en la Salud de los Ninos/Partners in Children's Health (CSN) project, a community-based randomized trial implementing and evaluating the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) parent coaching program with low-income Latina mothers and their infants in East Baltimore. This NIH-funded study includes research partners at the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Centro SOL (Salud/Health and Opportunity for Latinos).

The postdoctoral fellow will also have access to related archival data (including ABC and infant physiological data) for collaborative publications and will be invited to join the following initiatives:

* development of a citywide collaborative infant mental initiative to provide and disseminate the ABC program

* a collaborative statewide initiative devoted to supporting infant and early childhood mental health in early care and education settings

* the SRCD Social Policy Report

* ongoing collaborations with colleagues at the University of Maryland College Park (departments of Psychology and Human Development & Quantitative Methodology) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (department of Applied Developmental Psychology)

This postdoctoral fellowship will be principally in person/onsite.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary will follow NIH guidelines. Compensation will include health insurance, a generous paid leave package, and funds for professional development.

The fellow will join a small but engaged community of postdocs at the UMSSW. Founded in 1961, the UMSSW celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The mission of the UMSSW is to develop practitioners, leaders, and scholars to advance the well-being of populations and communities and to promote social justice. Currently ranked 21st among US schools of social work, the UMSSW is among the largest schools of social work in North America. In 2021, UMSSW faculty and staff were awarded more than $32 million in grants and contracts. UMSSW researchers address physical and behavioral health and their social determinants. Ongoing study foci include mental health, substance use and misuse, suicide and violence prevention, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, child welfare, safety net programs, juvenile justice, sex trafficking, cancer survivorship, inter-country and cross-cultural adoption, and workplace culture and organizational change. Research and community-engaged programs work together to conduct responsive research and support social work needs in Baltimore and beyond. The UMSSW provides 500,000 hours of social work services per year within the state of Maryland and surrounding communities. The School also trains the vast majority of social workers in the state. Graduates are educators and researchers at universities across the country and leaders in providing direct services to children, families, and adults in communities, health care, and public and private organizations.

The University of Maryland is a public university system headed by a Chancellor. It is recognized as the 12th-largest university system in the US, offering over 600 academic programs to more than 140,000 students at 100 sites. The University of Maryland is comprised of 11 academic campuses, each with its own president. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus, on which the School of Social Work resides, is located on 32 acres in downtown Baltimore. It consists of six professional schools with ~ 6,000 students. Also located on the campus is the University of Maryland Medical System, a major provider of comprehensive physical and mental health services.

Additional School and UMB resources include the following:

* The UMSSW Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

* The UMSSW Informatics Office

* The University of Maryland Health Sciences Library

* Regular research seminars and professional development workshops

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

UMB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. For assistance related to employment, please contact the Staffing department at [email protected].

The UMSSW is deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, and diversity and welcomes applicants from underrepresented groups who will help diversify and enrich ideas and perspectives.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Education:

PhD in human development, nursing, developmental psychology, social work, sociology, public health, or a related discipline

Skills:

* Expertise in infant socioemotional development and mental health; low-income and/or Latino infant development; infant stress regulation, sleep, and/or feeding; home-based and/or observational assessment of infant development

* Quantitative data management

* Quantitative data analysis, ideally using standard packages such as SPSS, R, MPlus to analyze RCT and/or longitudinal data, including tests of mediation and moderation

* Verbal and written communication, including strong "people" skills and excellent scientific writing skills

* Organizational skills

* Spanish verbal and written fluency (preferred)

Job
: Postdoctoral Fellows
Job Posting
: Jan 18, 2024