The
National Center for Health Statistics Postdoctoral Research Program
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is a unique public
resource for health information. As the Nation's principal health
statistics agency, NCHS provides the information needed to develop the
programs and policies that will improve the health of the American people.
NCHS's mission is to monitor American's health, and our activities
mirror the multifaceted aspects of health and health care.
The objective of the NCHS Postdoctoral Research Program is to provide
opportunities for postdoctoral candidates of unusual promise and ability
to conduct research in problems of their choosing that are compatible with
the interests of NCHS.
General areas of
interest for research at NCHS include statistical theory, survey
methodology, statistical computing, economics, demography and social and
behavioral science. Refer to the Suggested Research Areas section.
Conditions of
Postdoctoral Research Appointments
A Postdoctoral
Researcher is a temporary resident employee of NCHS (Title
42, Subchapter E, Part 61 and Title 5, Part
213.3101R, Excepted Appointment). Postdoctoral Researchers are analogous
to fellows or similar temporary researchers at the postdoctoral level in
universities and other organizations. Postdoctoral Research positions are
not intended to be or to compete with permanent professional career
positions.
No commitment on the
part of a Postdoctoral Researcher or NCHS with regard to later employment
is implied or should be inferred by the offer or acceptance of an award as
a Postdoctoral Researcher.
Postdoctoral
Researchers must devote their full-time effort to the research program and
must be in residence at NCHS during the program. No period of tenure may
be spent in residence at another agency or institution. No additional
monetary aid or other remuneration may be accepted from another
appointment, fellowship, or similar grant during the period of the
program.
Eligibility and
Consideration
This opportunity at NCHS
is open to citizens of the United States or legal
permanent residency with a work authorization. Applicants are responsible for obtaining the necessary
authorization. Permanent residency status
does not qualify as citizenship.
Postdoctoral Research
positions are awarded only to persons who have held doctorates less
than 3 years or are in the process of receiving doctorate degrees at
the time of application.
Qualified applicants
will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, color, age, sex,
national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation.
Tenure Awardees are offered 2-year appointments, but extensions are
possible with special consideration. An evaluation is conducted after 1 year to ensure that the Postdoctoral Researcher is making suitable
progress.
Education and
Experience
Awardees must hold the
Ph.D. or other earned research degree recognized in the United States as equivalent
to the Ph.D. or must present acceptable evidence of having completed all
the formal academic requirements for the degree before appointment.
Applicants must have demonstrated ability for creative research.
An applicant's
training and research experience may be in any appropriate discipline or
combination of disciplines required for the proposed research.
Statement
of Research Interest
Each applicant must
submit a statement of research interest describing the
project to be completed during the postdoctoral appointment. The proposal
should describe the purpose and context of the research project, the
research approach and methods to be used, key activities to be
undertaken during the fellowship period, and the expected contributions
of the proposed research. (For fullest consideration, submit the application
by February 28, 2009. However, applications will be accepted throughout
the year until positions are filled.)
Proposals
should not exceed five pages in length.
Applicants
are encouraged to contact NCHS to obtain specific information on current
research and available technical facilities and to speak to NCHS researchers
working in the specific area of interest.
The Panel Review
The Office of
Management and Operations, NCHS receives all application materials and supporting
documents.
The evaluation of
Postdoctoral Research proposals will be conducted annually in March-April
by a special panel convened for this purpose. Panelists are chosen to
review applications on the basis of their stature and research experience
in relevant fields of statistics, mathematics, computer science,
statistical computing, economics, sociology, demography, social science
research, and psychology. Their evaluation is the basis for NCHS
selections.
Proposals
will be evaluated with respect to the following criteria:
The
project's relevance to NCHS's mission and contribution to the field:
Proposals should clearly articulate the overall purpose of the project, its
relationship to NCHS's mission, and the overall scientific or policy
contributions of the proposed work.
The
strength of the approach, design, and methodology: Proposals should clearly
describe the analytic approach to be used as well as how the approach will
address research questions of interest.
The
feasibility of the project: Proposals will be evaluated in terms of their
substantive and methodological feasibility. Applicants should demonstrate
sufficient knowledge of data systems proposed for use in the project to
demonstrate feasibility. Proposals will also be assessed with respect to the
feasibility of completion of key activities within the proposed timeframe.
The
applicant's personal and professional qualifications: Applicants will be
assessed with respect to their academic achievements, scientific and
programmatic accomplishments, and other professional accomplishments.
Salary and Benefits
For
the 2008 program year, the annual salary for a NCHS Postdoctoral
Researcher starts from $69,764 to $90,698 with adjustments depending on
qualifications and experience.
Sick leave, annual
leave, thrift savings (401(k) equivalent), and health and life insurance
are available.
Flex Time is
available. With supervisor's approval, starting time can be as early as
6:00 a.m. and ending time as late as 6:30 p.m.
Alternate Work
Schedule is also available with supervisor approval. This means having a
3-day weekend every other week. Every 2 weeks, work 8 9-hour days, 1 8-hour day, and get the
10th day off.
NCHS is located in
Hyattsville, Maryland. Free parking is available on-site. A metro area
subway station is nearby.
Initiation of Tenure NCHS will offer a limited number of awards annually. The date on which
an appointment would begin is negotiable on an individual basis but is
expected to occur between June 1 and December 31.
Relocation Expenses Cost of relocation to the Washington, DC area, within allowances
prescribed by law, will be determined on an individual basis.
Application Deadline
Applications will be
accepted throughout the year until positions are filled.
Notification of
Awards Notification
of awards will be made beginning mid-April.
Application Materials
and Supporting Documents Submit the following
to the address below:
1. A curriculum vitae
2. Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate credits
3. Three reference letters
4. Statement of research interest 5. Incomplete applications
will not be reviewed.
Mailing address: Ms. Venita B. Smith
Office of Management and Operations
National Center for Health Statistics
3311 Toledo Road, Room 5111
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782
Suggested Research
Areas Confidentiality
protection and related topics Data linkage Quality control, quality
improvement and its measurement Adjustment for nonresponse
in sample surveys Telephone survey methods Data collection in a
changing health care system Small-area estimation Cognitive processes and
question response Data editing and imputation Statistical computing Sampling and estimation Questionnaire design and
measurement research Human factors and usability
research Data
mining