Post Doctoral Fellow

Job Details

Posting Number: RTF00210PO26
USC Market Title: Post Doctoral Fellow
Link to USC Market Title: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/156387
Business Title (Internal Title): Post Doctoral Fellow
Campus: Columbia
Work County: Richland
College/Division: Arnold School of Public Health
Department: ASPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Anticipated Hiring Range: Salary commensurate with qualifications
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Hours per Week: 40
Work Schedule: Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm; must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.
Type of Staff Position: Staff Research Grant (SRGP)
Basis: 12 months
Job Search Category: Post-doctoral

About University of South Carolina

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

South Carolina Retirement: Yes
State Insurance Programs: Yes
Annual Leave: Yes
Sick Leave: Yes

Advertised Job Summary

The primary purpose of this Postdoctoral Fellow position is to drive statistical methodology and applied research for an R01-funded project focused on digital biomarker discovery. Under the direct mentorship of Dr. Ghosal and co-PI Dr. Cui, the fellow will lead the development and execution of advanced functional and distributional data analysis techniques. This role requires independent analytical acumen to design simulation studies, process complex real-world data, and translate analytical outcomes into high-impact methodological and applied manuscripts for tier-1 peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, the scholar will contribute to the broader scientific community by developing well-documented, open-source statistical software in R, presenting research at major biostatistics conferences, and providing guidance to graduate and undergraduate students, all while receiving continuous support for their own professional growth and independent research career.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Requires a Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in area of research specialty by the start date of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of successful publications in peer-reviewed journals. Strong understanding of functional data analysis, longitudinal data analysis, and related Statistical concepts.
• Some experience with analyzing wearable or digital biomarker data.
• Clear communication and presentation skills for engaging effectively with faculty investigators and project teams on research activities and results.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge: A strong working knowledge and prior research experience in the area of functional data analysis are sought. Experience with distributional data analysis is desired but not necessary.
• Skills: Strong statistical and computational skills. Proficient in statistical computing in R and/or Python.
• Abilities: The following capabilities are desired: independent research capabilities, analytical acumen, attention to detail, initiative, and ethical conduct of research.

Job Duty

Methods Development

The Postdoctoral Fellow will directly work with the investigator team in developing and executing the methodological aims proposed in the grant. Responsibilities include development of methods and/or theory, designing simulation studies to assess performance, processing real data, and performing comprehensive real data analysis.

Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 40

Manuscript Writing

Write methodological articles for tier-1 statistics or biostatistics journals and perform thorough literature reviews. Write applied articles on the scientific findings of the methods. Collaborate with investigators and research teams to prepare scholarly manuscripts, ensuring clear and accurate presentation of statistical analyses and research findings. Responsibilities include drafting and editing sections related to study design, methods, results, and statistical interpretation. Assist in the development of high-quality tables, figures, and visualizations to effectively communicate complex data and analytic outcomes for publication and professional presentations. Ensure all reporting practices adhere to journal guidelines and established best practices, facilitating transparent, reproducible, and impactful dissemination of research results.

Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 30

Software Development

Develop statistical software and packages in R. Ensure all developed software is shared on open-source platforms, such as GitHub, accompanied by complete and clear documentation for end-users.

Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 20

Knowledge Dissemination and Training

Attend conferences and seminars to disseminate research findings at relevant statistics and biostatistics conferences. Utilize these opportunities for ongoing professional growth and to stay up to date with the latest relevant research and methodological advancements.

Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 10

Additional Position Details

Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential
Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing: No
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: 01/16/2027
Job Open Date: 09/15/2026
Job Close Date: 12/15/2026
Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicant

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by December 15, 2026.

Quicklink for Posting

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/213017

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

Working at University of South Carolina

With more than 200 years of history and tradition, the University of South Carolina is redefining itself for decades to come. There's never been a better time to be at South Carolina, the state's flagship university and one of only 62 public universities to receive the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation for research.

The University is located in the heart of South Carolina in the capital city of Columbia, which is the nexus of government, a thriving arts and culture center, a venue for big-time Southeastern Conference intercollegiate athletics, and a community that is reinventing itself with redevelopment projects citywide. Much of the development is tied to land along the scenic, slow-moving Congaree River. Working with government, business, and community leaders, Carolina has developed a unified plan that will allow the University to expand from its origins on the historic Horseshoe to its future-Innovista, a research and innovation district that will stretch to the banks of the Congaree.

Innovista represents a new vision for research by creating a vibrant, urban community where students and researchers, including those from private firms, will live, work, learn, and play. Innovista will represent the University's four core research areas-hydrogen fuel cells, nanoscience and technology, biomedical and public health, and the environment-but will include other initiatives and business partners that serve the knowledge economy. Innovista's first private tenant, for example, is a leader in software applications for the insurance industry and will create several hundred high-paying jobs.

By attracting similar companies and jobs-and by capitalizing on an attractive location for restaurants and residential and retail space-Innovista will help drive the economy and increase per-capita income in the city and state. Recreational space will include a world-class waterfront park along the Congaree River and a new stadium for the Gamecocks' nationally ranked baseball program. Greenway paths for biking, walking, and running already line much of the river area. Innovista's 8 million square feet will blend seamlessly with the Vista, the city's nearby entertainment district of restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries.

Chartered in 1801, Carolina began classes in 1805 with nine students and a single building, Rutledge College. As the campus grew and buildings were added during the next 50 years, a horseshoe layout was adopted. Today, the Horseshoe is on the National Register of Historic Places, with 10 of its 11 buildings dating to the 19th century. Those renovated buildings house, among other areas, the South Carolina Honors College and Undergraduate Admissions, representing much of the University's current and future lifeblood.

In fact, incoming freshman classes have never been larger or more competitive. The freshmen from fall 2006 set records for their size (more than 3,700) and SAT scores (1171 average). Freshmen enrolling in the Honors College had average SAT scores of 1398. Members of the University's prestigious scholarship programs, Carolina Scholars for in-state students and McNair Scholars for out-of-state students, had average scores of 1449 and 1477, respectively. Total enrollment at Carolina for undergraduates and graduates is more than 27,300, with some 350 degree programs to choose from. Since 1994, Carolina students have earned more than $9.9 million in prestigious national scholarships such as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes, and NSF scholarships and the Fulbright Fellowships.

South Carolina's student body is diverse. In fact, Carolina was recently recognized as the state flagship university with the highest percentage of African-American student enrollment in the nation. Research by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education shows African-American students made up 14.7 percent of enrollment in 2004, the latest year available. The JBHE also ranks Carolina eighth in the nation in percentage of African-American faculty at a state flagship university with 4.3 percent.

The University's faculty garnered a record $173.3 million in federal, state, and private funding for research, outreach, and training programs in 2005-06, and several key hiring plans will introduce more talent and expertise to the faculty ranks. An aggressive campus building master plan and the faculty recruiting initiatives will change the collective face of the University and the faces of many of its key teachers and researchers.

South Carolina is recruiting world-class faculty to be endowed chairs-and change agents-for a series of research centers of economic excellence in areas such as nanoelectronics, polymer nanocomposites, brain imaging, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug discovery, vision research, hydrogen fuel cells, and travel and tourism technology. These centers, some in collaboration with other state research universities and health and hospital systems, are funded with $30 million annually in state lottery money, as well as private matching money. Carolina is in the midst of a faculty recruitment plan to hire 600 new members. The Faculty Excellence Initiative is recruiting 150 faculty, many in interdisciplinary clusters of emphasis, while the Centenary Plan will recruit 100 elite research faculty to lead the University's core initiatives. Additionally, 350 faculty will be hired across disciplines to replace retirees over the next few years.

The University has forged a number of international collaborations in research, and the University's global connections are also strong in academics, particularly in international business. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the Moore School of Business best in the nation for its undergraduate and graduate programs in international business; the undergraduate program is No. 1 for the 10th consecutive time, while the graduate program is No. 1 among public universities for the 18th consecutive year and No. 2 overall, continuing a streak of 18 years with a top-two overall ranking.