Postdoctoral Scholar - Infectious Disease and Global Health

The Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health (IDGH) combines four important areas of expertise within Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. These are public/population health, Global One Health, wildlife and conservation medicine, and infectious disease research. The alignment of these areas promotes cross-disciplinary strengths that are important in achieving the department's goal of improving human, animal and ecosystem health locally, nationally and globally. Much of the research in the department aims to advance understanding of the ecology, biology, and host interaction of pathogens and to use this information to develop approaches to therapy and disease prevention. A key component of all academic programs, both nonclinical and clinical, is the field of One Health, an interdisciplinary framework that incorporates human and animal medicine with environmental science to improve health outcomes.

The Postdoctoral Scholar in Global One Health will support cutting-edge research, program implementation, and capacity-building initiatives focused on integrated human, animal, and environmental health. This position is embedded within a dynamic portfolio of Global One Health programs across Africa and other regions, addressing infectious diseases, zoonotic threats, gender, health systems strengthening, and community-based interventions. A successful candidate will possess excellent communication skills, be willing to frequently travel internationally, and be capable of working effectively with different partners to build capacity in One Health, all while supervising, training and mentoring students. S/he will promote a system thinking approach to problem solving through carrying out One Health research, teaching and service, and by identifying multidisciplinary field-based experiential learning opportunities for students. The One Health Postdoctoral Scholar will also be expected to contribute to expanding existing graduate and research programs in One Health at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, contributing to implementation science, applied field research, and the design of innovative, scalable One Health solutions. The role includes engagement with multidisciplinary teams, government partners, academic institutions, and communities.

Essential Functions in this role will be:

Research and Implementation

• Design and implement One Health research studies, including mixed-methods and systems-based approaches
• Contribute to implementation science efforts (e.g., design-test-pilot-scale frameworks)
• Lead or support data collection, analysis (quantitative and qualitative), and interpretation
• Develop and validate tools, indicators, and frameworks (e.g., One Health indices, surveillance systems)
• Contribute to outbreak preparedness, detection, and response research

Programmatic Support

• Support implementation of global One Health initiatives (e.g., workforce development, surveillance systems, community health interventions)
• Engage in field-based activities, including coordination with local partners and stakeholders
• Contribute to development of innovative platforms (e.g., digital health tools, early warning systems, point-of-care diagnostics)
  Assist in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities

Capacity Building and Training

• Support training programs such as One Health fellowships, leadership academies, and student research programs
• Mentor graduate students and fellows
• Contribute to curriculum development and teaching activities

Partnerships and Collaboration

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across human, animal, and environmental health sectors
• Engage with government agencies, NGOs, and international partners
• Contribute to strengthening academic and institutional partnerships

Scholarly Output and Funding

• Lead and co-author peer-reviewed publications, reports, and policy briefs
• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development
• Present research findings at conferences and stakeholder meetings

Basic Requirements:

• PhD, DVM, MD, DrPH, or equivalent in One Health, Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, or related field
• Demonstrated experience in One Health or interdisciplinary health research
• Strong analytical skills (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods)
• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), preferably in Africa or Asia
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams

Additional Preferred Experience, Education, etc.

• Experience in implementation science and/or health systems strengthening
• Familiarity with zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak response
• Experience with participatory approaches (e.g., community engagement, systems mapping)
• Knowledge of digital health, bio-surveillance, or early warning systems
• Prior experience mentoring students or fellows
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications