The Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research (DOR) invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow to join an active research team broadly focused on maternal mental health and substance use. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work in collaboration with Drs. Lyndsay Avalos and Kelly Young-Wolff, Research Scientists at the DOR and will work on a variety of research ranging from epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and health care delivery. S/he will lead analyses and prepare manuscripts by utilizing already collected data from several NIH- or foundation-funded studies related to the identification and prevention of perinatal depression and anxiety; the epidemiology of perinatal depression and substance use on child development, behavioral and mental health outcomes; the impact of prenatal care on maternal and perinatal outcomes; and outcomes of intervention trials designed for women with perinatal depression. The fellow will be expected to analyze data, write papers, present at national scientific meetings and assist in the preparation of grant proposals. The successful applicant will have opportunities to develop his/her research skills in a unique health care delivery system with unrivaled clinical data sources and may be eligible to apply for limited internal grant funding. DOR provides opportunities for continued training, including an Early Stage Investigator Program for postdoctoral fellows and junior scientists, and research seminars across a variety of disciplines.

The Postdoctoral Fellow position calls for individuals with an interest in maternal mental health and substance use. A doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, MD, ScD) in epidemiology or related field is required. The successful candidate should have excellent scientific writing skills and strong oral communication skills. Preference will be given to applicants with strong analytic and writing skills and a demonstrated ability to publish papers. The position term is two years with the possibility of up to 2 additional years.

The Division of Research is located in Oakland, California and includes more than 60 scientists who participate in well-developed programs in women’s and children’s health, behavioral health and aging, infectious disease, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, health care delivery and policy. Investigators have access to rich clinical data from >4 million KPNC members from the San Francisco Bay Area. Investigators are primarily supported by grant and contract funding from the National Institutes of Health, other Federal agencies, the State of California, and private foundations. The Postdoctoral Fellow will have opportunities to further develop his/her research skills in a rich environment with a diverse patient population, extensive electronic infrastructure and comprehensive data capture, and long-standing history of clinically effective research.