Post-baccalaureate research fellowship at National Institutes of Health

The Health Disparities Unit (HDU) in the Social and Behavioral Research Branch (SBRB) of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is recruiting a post-baccalaureate research fellow interested in the study of 1) the intersection of genomics, social determinants of health, and health inequities specifically related to the integration of precision medicine and/or curative genetic therapies into health care; or 2) societal issues of genomics, race and human genetic variation; or 3) clinical, genomic and psychosocial factors in sickle cell disease. The Unit studies sickle cell disease as a case study of a genetic condition with a history of inequities in research and clinical care. Post-baccalaureate fellows are expected to develop their own project within the scope of ongoing research in the Unit and participate in the training and mentoring programs for NIH post-baccalaureate fellows. Fellowship term is 2 years.

SBRB is a research program within the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) which focuses on a spectrum of disorders, from those that have a major public health impact, to rare genetic conditions with significant impact on affected families. We conduct research at the intersection of genomics and the social and behavioral sciences and train the next generation of scientists and clinicians in this domain. We approach research with a social genomics lens by investigating the role that social determinants play in creating disparities in risk, morbidity, and mortality of disease. The mission of the HDU within SBRB is to investigate approaches to translating new genomic knowledge and precision medicine into clinical settings without exacerbating health inequities. Vence Bonham, JD is the lead investigator for the Unit: https://www.genome.gov/staff/Vence-L-Bonham-Jr-JD.

Further information about the Social and Behavioral Research Branch and Division of Intramural Research may be found at: https://www.genome.gov/about-nhgri/Division-of-Intramural-Research/Social-Behavioral-Research-Branch. Further information about NIH’s training and education program and professional development opportunities may be found at: https://www.training.nih.gov/home, with information specific to the IRTA Program at: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postbac_irta

Candidates legally approved to work in the USA with an earned undergraduate or master’s degree in basic or social and behavioral sciences or closely related field (e.g., anthropology, bioethics, biology, epidemiology, genetics and genomics, health education, nursing, pre-med, psychology, public health, or sociology) are invited to apply. Applicants must have completed their baccalaureate degree prior to the start of the fellowship. Preference will be given to candidates with established superior analytic research skills, expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, strong written and oral communication skills, and demonstrated research interests in areas currently under investigation in the Unit. Applicants must also fulfill eligibility requirements of the IRTA program specified at https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postbac_irta

This fellowship is a part of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Intramural Research Training Award Program (IRTA). Candidates must apply to both the IRTA program and Vence Bonham's lab.