Job Description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Environmental Health and Geospatial Data Science Lab ( Gong Lab) in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position. We seek a highly motivated candidate with expertise or a strong interest in Environmental Health Sciences and Geospatial Data Science to join the team. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Xi Gong on interdisciplinary research focused on environmental exposure modeling and assessment, the health impacts of environmental exposures, and spatiotemporal big data analytics and visualization.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement models to assess and predict environmental exposure across spatial and temporal scales.
• Analyze the impacts of environmental and social determinants on health and well-being across the human lifespan using spatial, statistical, and computational methods.
• Integrate multi-source spatiotemporal big data and employ machine learning/AI, network analysis, and visualization techniques to uncover hidden patterns in human-environment dynamics.
• Support environmental and health data collection efforts and contribute to IRB applications and data management.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, present research findings in conferences/meetings, and generate regular project update reports.
• Contribute to grant proposal development and mentor junior researchers in the group.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in GIScience, Environmental Science, Geography, Statistics, Computer Science, Public Health, Epidemiology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated record of high-quality publications in the relevant field.
• Excellent quantitative skills and programming experience, with expertise in GIS-based modeling and spatial data analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Strong motivation, work ethic, and the ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team environment.
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience in high-performance computing, big data analytics, and AI research.

Application:

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• Cover letter describing research experience, qualifications, research interests, and future research directions
• Curriculum vitae
• 2–3 representative publications
• Contact information for three references

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. Xi Gong at xigong@psu.edu

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

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