Center for Global California Studies
Health Disparities Postdoctoral Position Available
Application Deadline: June 8, 2010
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Center for Global California
Studies (CGCS) seeks applicants for a 2-year doctoral level fellowship in applied
research focused on the health of California’s diverse ethnic populations. This fellowship
is a collaboration between the UCSD Comprehensive Research Center in Minority
Health Disparities (CRCHD), and is made possible through generous funding from the
National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
(NCMHD).
The purpose of this fellowship is to support community-based research that focuses on
health in its most broadly defined terms. Research includes (but is not limited to) medical
anthropology, ethnography of community health systems (food safety, social history,
etc), adolescent health as well as other social-cultural processes impacting community
wellbeing. The Center for Global California studies is interested in promoting
understanding of issues of community health in California’s diverse communities that
encompass rural, urban and U.S./California-Mexico border sites. Research should aim to
broaden our understanding of health disparities, particularly as they occur among
today’s youth and growing ethnic communities. The communities of focus for this
position include City Heights, Logan Heights, and the Diamond District, all located in a
burgeoning and historically diverse region of San Diego.
Components:
The fellowship will be tailored to the fellow’s research interests and may include the
following types of activities:

Specific project outlined by the candidate

Ongoing community-outreach and research in sites that can include
neighborhood schools, local programs and clinics.

Affiliation and participation in a vibrant professional and diverse community
setting in San Diego’s City Heights.

Compilation of ongoing research findings as well as write-up opportunity.

Teaching one class and/or supervising undergraduates in community
settings.

Participating and directing graduate/undergraduate students in an
ethnographic community practicum.
Qualifications:
Suitable Candidates will have a doctorate in the social sciences or related fields
(anthropology, communication, sociology, interdisciplinary fields, public health).
Ethnographic competence and experience working with diverse communities is highly
desirable. We seek highly motivated applicants with strong interests in minority health
disparities, collaborative community research, and a desire to seek a career in
academic, applied or policy arenas. The candidate should have the ability to work
independently as well as part of a research team.
Preferred Experience:
Preference will be given to applicants who are bilingual or bicultural and/or have
experience working with disadvantaged and/or underserved populations. Women and
under-represented minorities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with activities and
prior research with diverse communities and/or communities typically underserved by
traditional academic research are especially encouraged to apply. This program is also
interested in individuals with previous or ongoing research, which considers issues of
culture, race, ethnicity, family and/or gender as they relate to health status and health
disparities.
How to Apply:
Please email the following to Elana Zilberg or Roberto Alvarez (contact information
below):
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A two page Personal Statement addressing the above qualifications, interests,
experiences and future goals, particularly as they relate to health disparities.
A two-page description of the type of project to be addressed.
A Curriculum Vitae
Three letters of Recommendation
A copy of academic Transcript
TOEFL score (where English is a second language).
Roberto Alvarez,Director, oloberto@ucsd.edu
Elana Zilberg, Associate Director, ezilberg@ucsd.edu
Center for Global California Studies
University of California, San Diego