Post-Doctoral Position in Health Disparity Research Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Tools

The Center 4 Health Research (C4HR) is a newly established strategic initiative of the University of Illinois-College of Medicine, Peoria (UICOMP) with the mission to improve the overall health and promote equity in our local community. Our goal is to drive positive change through pioneering research, innovative programs, and fruitful collaborations with healthcare systems, academic institutions, and community organizations. As a dynamic and forward-thinking research team, we are deeply committed to advancing the field of health disparity research. We achieve this through the application of state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Our primary focus is on narrowing the gap in healthcare outcomes and addressing disparities in access and quality of care across a wide spectrum of populations.

We are currently searching for a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher to join our team and contribute to groundbreaking research in this vital area. If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact on healthcare equity and accessibility, we encourage you to consider becoming a part of our dedicated team.

Position Summary

This position will play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and analyzing research projects focused on identifying and addressing health disparities using AI and ML methodologies. This includes collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of researchers utilizing state-of-the-art resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Research Design: Develop research strategies and study designs that leverage AI and ML to investigate health disparities in various populations, particularly those responsible for the increasing rural-urban disparities.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Collect, preprocess, and analyze healthcare data, including electronic health records, surveys, and other relevant datasets.
• Algorithm Development: Learn, develop, and refine AI and ML algorithms tailored to address specific research questions related to health disparities.
• Career pathway: Work with the Director to formulate a comprehensive career development plan focused on advancing expertise in health disparity research and submitting a competitive career award proposal.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with experts in health services research, epidemiology, public health, and related fields to gain insights and inform research directions.
• Publication and Presentation: Prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present results at conferences and seminars.
• Grant Writing: Contribute to grant proposal development to secure funding for ongoing research projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field such as health service research, epidemiology, public health, computer science, or a related discipline.
• Strong background in AI and ML techniques, with a focus on healthcare applications.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as SAS, R and/or Python. Experience of creating GIS maps will be preferred.
• Experience working with healthcare datasets and familiarity with data preprocessing and cleaning techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. A commitment to addressing health disparities and improving healthcare equity.

To be considered please email the materials listed below to: mahlberg@uic.edu.

• A cover letter detailing your research interests and why you are interested in this position.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
• Contact information for at least two professional references.
• Any additional documents or publications demonstrating your research expertise.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/one.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=5705 to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

As an EOE/AA employer, the University of Illinois encourages applications from individuals regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, and Veteran or disability status.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation at https://jobs.uic.edu/request-and-accomodation/.