Postdoctoral Scholar Research

Job Description

Organizational Unit:

The USF Health College of Nursing is one of 14 colleges at the University of South Florida and one of four that make up USF Health. As a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, USF is designated by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Research 1 and a Community-Engaged institution
- reflecting its commitment to excellence in education, research, and service.

Nationally recognized as a leader in nursing education and research, the College of Nursing serves more than 2,000 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students each year. For the fourth consecutive year, our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program has been ranked No. 1 among Florida's public universities by U.S. News & World Report-rising to No. 23 in the nation in 2025.

As an integral part of USF Health, the College of Nursing is guided by a mission grounded in excellence, innovation, and respect. We are dedicated to educating future nurses, advancing nursing science, and applying evidence-based practice to improve health outcomes and community well-being.

Description:

The College of Nursing at the University of South Florida (USF) enthusiastically invites applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position(s) in one of two areas:
Symptom management in cancer care or strengthening resilience in intimate partner violence. Successful applicants will be outstanding scholars from diverse backgrounds who desire a career in academic public health, with a focus on chronic disease prevention and management in clinic- and community-based settings, and whose work aligns with improving health outcomes, community based participatory research, and stakeholder engagement to tailor evidence-based interventions in diverse settings.

The position is full-time and benefits eligible. The selected scholar will be involved in robust mentoring and work closely with an interdisciplinary faculty in the College of Nursing. The Scholar will have access to institutional and college resources, guidance from faculty mentors and access to workshops and seminars that foster research excellence. Additionally, the college offers career development opportunities, pilot grant awards, and networking opportunities.

Application Instructions:

A cover letter addressing interest in the position. USF is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment. Applicant's cover letter must explain how they will further this goal. The letter also should address the applicant's research interests within and outside of USF.

A curriculum vitae (CV).

A recent, scholarly writing sample (e.g., dissertation chapter, published peer-reviewed article on which you are the sole or primary author).

Three reference letters (letters may be uploaded as attachments to your application or may be emailed to Ukamaka Oruche (orucheu)

Responsibilities

The Postdoctoral Scholar will play a key role in advancing cutting-edge and innovative research to improve health outcomes focused on one of two areas:

Symptom management across the cancer care continuum. Working closely with the primary mentor, Dr. Usha Menonin the College of Nursing, the scholar will contribute to a research program dedicated to reducing health disparities among under-represented populations. Dr. Menon's work uses a transdisciplinary approach to implement and adapt evidence-based, tailored interventions for diverse communities, with a particular emphasis on cancer care. The postdoctoral researcher will support the design, evaluation, and implementation of culturally sensitive health promotion and illness-prevention strategies, ensuring that all interventions are grounded in real-world contexts and guided by principles of health equity.

Resiliency among women experiencing intimate partner violence. The scholar will contribute to the development, testing, and large-scale implementation of behavioral interventions across local and global communities. The primary mentor, Dr. Oruche's program focuses on strengthening mental health care delivery for individuals with severe emotional and behavioral health challenges through interventions that enhance communication, support families, and build workforce capacity. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the postdoctoral researcher will support behavioral intervention design, evaluation, and data analysis for community based clinical trials.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Doctoral degree from an accredited institution and appropriate experience and training within a selected area of specialization. Must meet university criteria for appointment to the rank of Postdoctoral Fellow.

Preferred Qualifications

The successful candidate must have completed PhD or equivalent in public health or related areas, a focus on chronic diseases and/or behavioral interventions, ability to work independently as well as work with a multidisciplinary team, excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills and experience with statistical and data…