Dr. Cassidy Puckett

NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship

Job Description

The Emory University Sociology Department invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in digital health inequities. The fellow will work with Dr. Cassidy Puckett (PI) on an NSF-funded study on how organizations shape racial and socioeconomic inequities in access to and use of medical devices to manage diabetes.

The project is located in both California and Georgia; the postdoctoral fellow will be based in northern California.

New medical technologies have the potential to support longer and healthier lives. Yet, at the same time, racial and socioeconomic inequities in their use paradoxically exacerbates existing health disparities. While some studies suggest these disparities can be explained by group differences in technological skill, little research examines the role of organizations and organizational systems in creating barriers to the benefits of medical innovation. Therefore, this study examines how different organizations (e.g., medical clinics, tech companies, schools) individually and collectively contribute to systems of health inequity in the digital age. Findings from the study will inform an organizations based intervention and help ensure equitable access to the benefits of medical innovation.

The postdoctoral fellowship presents a unique opportunity for early career scholars to gain research, grant writing, and publication experience working on a dynamic interdisciplinary team with medical researchers at Emory University and the University of California San Francisco. The fellow will receive mentorship from Dr. Puckett and collaborators at both institutions, opportunities for lead authorship and shared publication, and support for their independent research program.

Applicants should be Spanish-English bilingual (writing and speaking) and have experience conducting in-depth qualitative observations in schools and interviews with youth and their caregivers. Ideally, applicants will also have a research background in school-based healthcare, medical sociology, science and technology studies (STS), public health, and/or digital inequality.

Essential Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Dr. Puckettonthe research project on how organizations shape socioeconomic and racial inequities in medical device use (60%). Specifically:

• Collaborate on logistics of study recruitment, school district research reviews, and bi-coastal project management.

• Translate study recruitment materials, data collection protocols, and qualitative data (English to Spanish and Spanish to English)

• Collect, code, and analyze qualitative data (shadowing and interviewing participants)—please note that the study will involve asignificant amount of local travel.

• Contribute to scholarly, grant reporting, and public-facing writing and presentation about project findings.

• Co-develop grant proposals to support the ongoing project and related future phases of the research project and intervention (15%).

• Work on your own ongoing projects (25%).

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Shared responsibility for supervising part-time (undergraduate & graduate) student researchers.

• Shared responsibility for supervising part-time community-based researchers (teens).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.

Emory University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Georgia State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Emory University does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in use of facilities without such discrimination. The University also complies with all applicable federal and Georgia statutes and regulations prohibiting unlawful discrimination. All members of the student body, faculty, and staff are expected to assist in making this policy valid in fact. Any inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Office of Equity and Inclusion, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Bldg., Suite 305, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone 404/727-9867 (V) 404/712-2049 (TDD).