The Mindfulness for Health Equity Lab (mHEAL) directed by Dr. Shufang Sun, Assistant

Professor at Brown University School of Public Health and Brown Alpert Medical School,

provides an outstanding environment for interdisciplinary behavioral health research across

public health, counseling/clinical psychology, and biomedical and behavioral science. Dr. Sun

and her team are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate interested in intervention research

development and evaluation related to LGBTQ+ health research and mindfulness-based

interventions. The duration of the position is at least 1 year (100% FTE), with possibility of

renewal depending on funding and satisfactory progress. Specifically, the postdoctoral research

associate will work with Professor Sun, her team at Brown University, and a team of

investigators from institutions across the U.S. to support a randomized controlled trial research.

The intervention to be evaluated, called “Mindfulness-based Queer Resilience (MBQR)”, was

developed by Professor Sun and her team and tailored to LGBTQ health promotion, will be

delivered via the internet and aim to enhance mental and sexual health with racially diverse

young adult gay, bisexual, and queer men. This research is supported by NIH to investigate the

potential utility of mindfulness as a public health tool for HIV prevention and sexual and mental

health promotion with sexual minority men. In the next phase of a randomized controlled trial,

we will heavily recruit Black and Latino/x men and other sexual minority men of color.


The main work of the postdoctoral research associate will be support the RCT of MBQR, while

there are other ongoing research projects in Professor Sun’s lab that may fit the their career

development goals and they may choose to devote 10-20% of their effort in for the purpose of

research experience, publications, and career advancement. These optional projects may

include mindfulness-based eating behavior intervention research with sexual minority women at

risk for obesity, mindfulness intervention research for women with gestational diabetes, and HIV

and mental health research (intervention and non-intervention) with transgender and gender

nonconforming people in the U.S. and China.

Responsibilities of the postdoctoral fellow include: (a) oversee assessment, data management

and data cleaning of the RCT of MBQR; (b) conduct exit-interviews with Dr. Sun and supervise

qualitative data analysis upon training; (c) collaborate with Dr. Sun and other members of the

lab to analyze data from a recently completed clinical trial of MBQR and/or quantitative and

qualitative data from the lab; (d) draft manuscripts as first author or assist paper preparation as

co-author for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations; (e) assist with

community-facing aspects of the research, such as recruitment and dissemination of research

findings to relevant communities (LGBTQ+ organizations, mental health providers, mindfulness

teachers); (f) provide clinical and diversity support for MBQR intervention as needed; (g) actively

participate in lab meetings and contribute to a lab environment that emphasizes diversity,

community learning, knowledge and resource sharing, and strength-based approach to career

advancement.

Position Requirements: PhD, ScD, or DrPH in Counseling/Clinical Psychology, Mental Health,

Social and Behavioral Science, Community Health, or related field in public health. The

successful candidate will have (a) training in behavioral/mental health intervention research; (b)

experience and strong interest in working with LGBTQ+ communities, and experience with

LGBTQ+ people of color is highly valued; (c) strong interpersonal and program management

skills; (d) content knowledge in mindfulness, internet-based behavioral health research; (e)

programming skills (experience with R, STATA, or SAS are particularly desirable) and data

analysis skills (quantitative and qualitative); (f) peer-reviewed publications; (g) strong writing

skills.

Candidates should apply with a cover letter (summarizing research experience,

qualifications, and career goals, as well as addressing the reasons for their interest in the

position and their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and/or how they intend to show

this commitment in future work through scholarship, teaching, mentoring, service and

community engagement), curriculum vitae, and sample publication or equivalent.