Postdoctoral Research Associate

Salary: $62,232 - $65,640 annually, consistent with NIH standards and depending on experience and qualifications

Position Summary

The Department of Psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Sexuality, Health, and Gender (SHAG) lab, directed by Dr. Brian Feinstein. The overarching goals of the SHAG lab are: (1) to advance research on the role of stigma-related stress in the development and maintenance of mental and behavioral health problems among LGBTQ+ populations across the lifespan; and (2) to develop and test interventions to improve LGBTQ+ health. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will contribute to a NIMH-funded study examining the longitudinal and daily associations among sexual orientation-related rejection, rejection sensitivity, and mental health in a diverse cohort of sexual minority adolescents. In this role, they will support various study activities (e.g., recruitment, retention) and contribute to data analysis and dissemination (e.g., authoring and co-authoring manuscripts consistent with their research interests). They will also be able to gain exposure to and mentorship in grant writing. Individuals with interests in LGBTQ+ adolescent mental health, bisexual/bi+ mental health, and longitudinal/experience-sampling methods are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information about Dr. Feinstein, please visit: https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/faculty/brian-a-feinstein/

For more information about the SHAG lab, please visit:

https://www.theshaglab.com/

Start date: Preferably by February or March 2026, but will consider applicants who require a later start date

Term: 1 year with the possibility of a second year pending availability of funding and successful performance in Year 1

Location: On-site preferred; remote will be considered

To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter including:

• A description of your interest in the position and relevant experiences;
• Contact information for 2-3 references (references will only be contacted if you are invited for an interview)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Who We Are

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, a national leader in interprofessional medical and healthcare education, is a graduate-level health sciences university situated on an attractive 85-acre campus in North Chicago, Illinois, approximately 40 miles north of the city of Chicago and 50 miles south of Milwaukee. As such, the University benefits from active collaborations with local hospitals, as well as academic institutions in both cities. The campus is shared with the North Chicago VA Medical Center and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, both of which provide the University with potential research and clinical training resources.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, housing status, genetic information, source of income or military status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Support study activities (e.g., recruitment, retention)
• Analyze data
• Author and co-author manuscripts
• Contribute to grant writing

Conditions of Employment

• Must achieve satisfactory results from a background check

Required Education & Experience

• Ph.D. in social/behavioral/health sciences or a related field (e.g., psychology, public health, human development and family studies, social work, sociology)
• Experience conducting social/behavioral/health sciences research

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong work ethic, time management, and organizational skills
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to analyze quantitative data

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting research focused on LGBTQ+ populations
• Advanced quantitative data analysis skills (e.g., longitudinal, experience-sampling)
• Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals

Typical Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Selected candidate must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

EOE, Including Disability / Vets