NIH Postdoctoral Fellowships in Epidemiology at NIEHS

Through its fellowship program, the Epidemiology Branch strives to develop and mentor talented, motivated, and exceptional early career scientists. We seek applicants with a doctoral degree within the past five years, training or experience in epidemiology and statistical modeling, and an interest in the impact of environmental exposures on health. Experience in questionnaire development, biomarkers, digital technology/AI, GIS, Medicare/claims data, mixtures methods, ‘omics research, differential exposures and health outcomes, and/or gene-environment interactions is beneficial but not required. Research opportunities are currently available in:

• Chronic Disease Epidemiology — Leveraging large cohort studies (e.g., Agricultural Health Study, Sister Study, GuLF Study) to explore the impacts of life course environmental exposures, disasters, or the individual or combined effects of social, economic, lifestyle, nutritional, neighborhood, climate, and environmental exposures on risk for chronic diseases including cancer.
• Environmental & Cancer Epidemiology — Utilizing data from unique resources including the Sister Study cohort to investigate the relationship between both external (e.g., air pollution, personal care products) and internal (e.g., ‘omics-scale measurement of biomarkers such as PFAS) environmental exposures in relation to the risk of cancer in women.
• Fertility and Reproductive Health — Investigating environmental influences (e.g. vitamin D, ambient heat, air pollution, metals) on reproductive health, with a focus on reducing the burden of menstrual dysfunction, subfertility, and pregnancy loss; leveraging data from the Investigation of Vitamin D and Menstrual Cycles Trial (inVitD), the Study of Environment Lifestyle and Fibroids (SELF), the Apple Women’s Health Study, and a large consortium of time-to-pregnancy cohorts.
• Perinatal and Early Life Epidemiology — Working with high-dimensional chemical exposure biomarker and metabolomics data to investigate the role of the maternal environment during pregnancy in early delivery and reduced fetal to early childhood growth, and other perinatal health outcomes.
• Environmental and Social Determinants of Health — Identifying biological mechanisms by which social and physical environmental factors affect health and contribute to differential health outcomes—for example, how neighborhood/housing and work environments affect sleep health and subsequent cardiometabolic health.

Fellows may choose two advisors—a primary research advisor and a career mentor—from among senior Branch and Division scientists. Time is devoted to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and career development (e.g., grant applications). Opportunities exist for interdisciplinary or multicenter collaborations and large consortium-based projects. Fellows at NIEHS are encouraged to participate in scientific meetings and to build on existing resources to develop new projects that become the basis for transition to independent research K99/R00 and non-NIH research grants. The training environment is enriched by proximity and access to local universities (e.g., University of North Carolina, NC Central University, NC State University, and Duke University). Opportunities for mentoring undergraduate and graduate students are available. NIEHS offers comprehensive training and career development opportunities for fellows. Previous trainees have gone on to positions with schools of public health and medicine, NIH, other government agencies and industry.

Highly competitive stipends are determined by degree(s) and years of relevant postdoctoral experience. Medical insurance is provided. Initial appointments are for 2 years at NIEHS in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, with up to 3 potential one-year extensions depending on eligibility and productivity. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Applicants should submit the following materials to [email protected] and indicate which of the research areas above is of strongest interest:

• Statement describing areas of research interest
• Curriculum vitae with bibliography
• Copies of 1-2 recent publications
• Contact information for 3 persons serving as references

Fellows at NIEHS are represented by NIH Fellows United.

Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization. NIH encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.