Postdoctoral Research Scholar 0-5 yrs Experience

Overview Please note that this position offers a fixed monthly salary of $6,435.00, which is not subject to negotiation. The appointment is for a fixed-term contract commencing on the date of hire and ending on March 31, 2027. Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work. Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations. Our core values: Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development. Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues. Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles. Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals. FUNCTION OF THE UNIT The School of Public Health at San Diego State University fosters a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment committed to advancing public health through evidence-based inquiry and community engagement. The school is home to diverse faculty expertise across health management and policy, global health, epidemiology, environmental health, and biostatistics, with a strong emphasis on addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. The SDSU School of Public Health is ranked in the top 15% among Public Health Schools in the United States and 3rd in California by U.S. News and World Report. Our research infrastructure includes partnerships with local and state health agencies, and robust support for quantitative and qualitative research. Faculty and researchers benefit from a dynamic academic setting that encourages innovation, impactful scholarship, and translation of research into policy and practice—particularly in areas such as Medi-Cal expansion, immigrant health, and health systems financing. This environment provides an ideal foundation for conducting rigorous, policy-relevant research that informs public health decision-making in California and beyond. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION A research position is available as part of a California Department of Insurance-funded initiative to evaluate the effects of Medi-Cal expansions regardless of immigration status. This project aims to generate evidence on how these policy changes influence health insurance coverage, healthcare utilization, program financing, and employment patterns across the state. The researcher will receive strong training in health policy analysis, public insurance program evaluation, and quantitative methods using large administrative datasets. The project is designed to produce high-impact publications and inform future policy decisions at the state level. For this position, the candidate will work under the direct supervision of project principal investigator (PI) Dr. Wilton Choi; and will join a growing research team at the School of Public Health. Candidates with strong motivation and a background in public health, health economics, policy analysis, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Experience with econometric/quasi-experimental approaches for causal effect estimation, microsimulation, data analysis, program evaluation, or California health systems is especially valuable. Responsibilities Conducting Research 60% Design and implement quantitative analyses to assess the impact of Medi-Cal expansions on coverage, utilization, financing, and employment. Clean, manage, and analyze large administrative and survey datasets (e.g., CHIS, ACS, Medi-Cal claims). Develop microsimulation models or other policy evaluation tools to estimate effects of coverage changes. Collaborate with faculty and policy partners to refine research questions and methodologies. Ensure compliance with data security protocols and IRB requirements. Publishing Research Findings 25% Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals in health economics, public health, and policy. Present findings at academic conferences, policy briefings, and stakeholder meetings. Contribute to policy reports and white papers aimed at informing California health policy. Translate complex research results into accessible formats for non-academic audiences. Professional Development 1 0% Participate in seminars, workshops, and training sessions focused on health policy analysis and advanced econometric methods. E