Posted Date:
Position Description
The CONNECTOR Cross-HERN Fellow is a unique, multi-site training position designed to prepare early-career researchers for leadership in community-driven and community-based participatory research (CBPR). This fellowship offers immersive, hands-on experience across a Coordinating/Resource Center and multiple partner hub sites, with a strong emphasis on cross-site collaboration, community engagement, and translational impact. This role is intentionally flexible and candidate-centered, allowing for individualized structuring of rotations, travel, and research focus while maintaining core expectations around cross-hub scholarship and community partnership.
Program Structure & Duration
Duration: 2 Years
Structure: Hybrid model with a primary home base at UT San Antonio Kate Marmion School of Public Health with engagement across three hub sites (UCSD, Yale, Furman University)
Travel Expectations: Approximately 25–50% travel, with flexibility depending on fellow preferences (not fixed rotations)
Format: Combination of:
- Short-term site visits
- Longer embedded experiences (as appropriate)
- Ongoing virtual collaboration across sites
Key Responsibilities:
1. Cross-Hub Research & Scholarship
- Lead and contribute to multi-site, community-engaged research projects
- Produce at least one cross-hub publication annually
- Participate in development of multi-site datasets, analyses, and dissemination products
- Contribute to community-facing deliverables (e.g., reports, briefs, presentations)
2. Community Engagement
- Collaborate with community partners at each site using CBPR principles
- Participate in community meetings, advisory boards, and co-design processes
- Support equitable and inclusive research practices, including shared decision-making and co-authorship
3. Rotational & Collaborative Learning
- Engage across multiple research settings, which may include:
- Academic research environments
- Community-based organizations
- Health systems or justice-involved settings
- Contribute meaningfully to each site while maintaining continuity across projects
4. Career Development
- Develop an independent research trajectory
- Prepare and submit career development or pilot grant applications (as appropriate)
- Participate in training in:
- CBPR methods
- Implementation science
- Community engagement
- Professional and leadership skills
5. Collaboration & Network Engagement
- Actively participate in CONNECTOR network activities
- Engage in cross-hub working groups and thematic collaborations
- Contribute to building long-term partnerships across sites
Research Focus Areas (Illustrative)
Fellows may engage in one or more cross-cutting themes, including:
- Food systems and food insecurity
- Cardiovascular health and prevention
- Structural and social determinants of health
- Justice-involved populations
- Community power and equity in research
Mentorship & Support
The Cross-HERN Fellow will receive structured, multi-level mentorship, including:
- Primary mentor at the Coordinating Center
- Site-specific academic mentors at each hub
- Community mentors/liaisons
- Regular check-ins and quarterly mentoring team meetings
Additional support includes:
- Career coaching and professional development
- Access to training resources and workshops
- Support for well-being and navigation of multi-site work
Position Requirements
Qualifications
Required
- Master’s degree or PhD (or equivalent) in public health, social sciences, health sciences, or related field
- Demonstrated interest or experience in community engaged or participatory research
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Willingness to engage in multi-site collaboration and travel
Preferred
- Experience with CBPR or community-engaged research approaches
- Prior involvement in multi-site or collaborative research projects
- Interest in health equity, population health, or implementation science
- Experience working with diverse or underserved populations
Work Environment & Logistics
- Primary appointment at one site, with engagement across partner hubs
- Travel and housing support provided (structure may vary)
- Flexible scheduling to accommodate:
- Project needs
- Personal constraints
- Site-specific requirements
Key Features of This Fellowship
- Highly flexible, individualized structure
- Strong emphasis on cross-site collaboration (required)
- Exposure to diverse research and community contexts
- Opportunity to build a national network in community engaged research
- Designed as a pilot, innovation-focused training model
Ideal Candidate Profile
This fellowship is best suited for individuals who:
- Are excited by non-traditional, flexible training models
- Value collaboration across institutions and communities
- Are comfortable navigating ambiguity and evolving program design
- Seek to build a career in community-driven, impact oriented research
How to Apply
Contact Stephanie Young at or at youngs5@uthscsa.edu 210-450-7943. You can also formally apply for the position at https://wp.uthscsa.edu/careers/
All postdoctoral appointments are designated as security sensitive positions. UT Health San Antonio is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is our policy to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.