The Department of Surgery at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center (BMC) jointly invite applications for a full-time research faculty member specializing in surgical epidemiology and health services research. This position is part of Boston University’s (BU’s) major investment in convergent research, with a focus on the “Future of Healthy Aging,” bringing together bold ideas, deep expertise, and perspectives from across disciplines to take on society’s most critical challenges. Final rank placement will be based on the candidate's academic record, research background, and other factors.
This position is part of a cluster hiring program that builds on BU’s strength in Health Across the Lifespan, an area of significant expertise and opportunity across the University. BU is home to renowned studies of aging including the Framingham Heart Study and New England Centenarian Study, as well as innovative interdisciplinary research centers focused on the demography and economics of population aging, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, the biology of aging, and more. This position will advance interdisciplinary research at the intersection of healthy aging, health equity, and surgical care.
This position offers a distinctive opportunity to embed rigorous epidemiologic and outcomes science within a Level I trauma center and one of the nation's largest urban, safety-net hospital systems. The successful candidate will develop an independently funded research program in close partnership with the Department's surgical divisions. The Department supports a full spectrum of research activity, from observational outcomes studies and health equity investigation to interventional and pragmatic clinical trials, all anchored by BMC's exceptional clinical volume, operative case mix, and patient diversity.
About the Department & Institution
Boston University is a leading private research university and one of the largest in the United States, with strengths spanning medicine, public health, engineering, and the social sciences. Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the nation's leading academic medical centers, with particular depth in aging biology, cancer biology, cardiovascular medicine, infectious disease, and health equity research.
The primary teaching hospital of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, BMC is the largest safety-net hospital and one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in New England, serving one of the most racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse urban patient populations in the United States. This clinical environment provides an unparalleled substrate for surgical epidemiology, outcomes research, health equity investigation, pragmatic trial implementation, and population-level intervention science.
The Department of Surgery is a dynamic, mission-driven academic enterprise encompassing 12 clinical divisions: Cardiac Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery, General Surgery, Minimally Invasive and Weight Loss Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Podiatric Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Supported by federal funding, foundation awards, and industry partnerships, the Department maintains an active and growing research enterprise with ongoing clinical trials across multiple surgical disciplines. It is home to an NIH-funded T32 Research Training Grant and the Boston Trauma Institute, reflecting a sustained institutional commitment to research infrastructure and investigator development. Faculty benefit from dedicated research space, a shared infrastructure, a departmental Research Council, and a research-primary appointment structure designed to support full commitment to scholarly productivity.
Research Focus Areas
We seek a candidate whose scholarly interests align with one or more of the following priority areas. Exceptional candidates with adjacent expertise are encouraged to apply:
Responsibilities
RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP
Develop and execute an independently funded research program in surgical epidemiology or health services research
Seek and obtain extramural funding as Principal Investigator (PI), with expectation of NIH R01 or equivalent peer-reviewed funding
Publish original research in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and disseminate findings at national and international scientific conferences
Utilize BMC's clinical data infrastructure, electronic health records, and biorepository resources in support of research aims
Collaborate across the Department of Surgery, the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and Boston University to advance team science and interdisciplinary scholarship
MENTORSHIP & EDUCATION
Serve as a hands-on methodologic mentor for surgical residents, junior faculty, and clinician-investigators pursuing extramural grants
Provide direct, substantive guidance in study design, analytic strategy, and grant writing — from early concept development through submission
Contribute to graduate-level training in surgical epidemiology and clinical research methods, in partnership with the Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health
Participate in departmental research conferences, journal clubs, and the Department of Surgery faculty initiatives
SERVICE & LEADERSHIP
Participate in departmental, school, and hospital committees appropriate to rank and experience
Contribute to research strategy and infrastructure development within the Department of Surgery
Represent the Department in relevant professional organizations and national collaborative networks
Develop a national and international scholarly reputation through peer-reviewed publication, conference leadership, and engagement with professional societies in surgical outcomes and health services research
Qualifications
REQUIRED
Doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, ScD, or equivalent) in epidemiology, health services research, or a closely related field; MD/PhD candidates with comparable research qualifications are also encouraged to apply
Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication commensurate with career stage
Strong quantitative methodologic skills, including proficiency in causal inference, regression modeling, survival analysis, or related methods
Experience with large clinical, administrative, or electronic health record databases (e.g., NSQIP, Medicare/Medicaid claims, NCI SEER, institutional EHR)
Evidence of extramural funding (as PI or Co-I) or a compelling trajectory toward independent funding
PREFERRED
Current active NIH R01 or equivalent peer-reviewed funding as PI
Prior or ongoing collaboration with surgical departments, clinical trialists, or translational scientists
Experience with implementation science frameworks, mixed-methods research, or pragmatic trial design
Demonstrated commitment to health equity research and experience working with underserved or minority populations
Familiarity with NIH, AHRQ, PCORI, or HRSA funding mechanisms relevant to surgical outcomes, health equity, and population health
Support & Resources
The successful candidate will receive a competitive start-up package, dedicated office space, and a research-primary faculty appointment within a department that actively supports investigator-initiated science.
Institutional and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC) at the Boston University School of Public Health, providing dedicated analytic partnership for large-scale observational and interventional studies
Automated patient tracking and clinical data warehouse (CDW) infrastructure within the Department, supporting real-time surgical cohort assembly and longitudinal outcomes analysis
BMC Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) and access to national surgical quality databases including NSQIP, enabling single-institution and multi-center study designs
BMC's longitudinal electronic health records spanning one of the most racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse urban patient populations in the United States, with unparalleled depth for health equity and disparities research
Boston VA Healthcare System partnership and research portfolio, accessible through the Department's established VA collaborations, extending reach into veteran and federal health system populations
Affiliation with the BU Center for Aging Research (BU-CARES) and cross-departmental aging science networks, offering opportunities in geriatric surgery outcomes and surgical risk in older adults
Departmental Research Council providing structured grant review, mentorship, and strategic research planning support, with a track record of investigator-initiated submissions across NIH, PCORI, HRSA, and foundation funding mechanisms
Active interdisciplinary collaborations across Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Surgical Oncology, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, with externally funded programs in wound care, cancer disparities, and surgical access
Administrative and research coordination support for grant submission, IRB management, and sponsored research administration
Access to BMC's Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) and national surgical quality databases
Administrative and research coordination support for grant submission and management
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this position is $140,000 – $184,500. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to qualifications, experience, and education. This hiring range represents a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Boston University conducts a background check on all final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. The background check includes contacting the final candidate’s current and previous employer(s) to ask whether, in the last seven years, there has been a substantiated finding of misconduct violating that employer’s applicable sexual misconduct policies. To implement this process, the university requires a final candidate to complete and sign the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” after execution of an offer letter.
Boston University offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off; parental leave; and tuition benefits for faculty and dependents. Dedicated dual-career support and relocation assistance are available through Boston University's faculty recruitment office.
Location
This position is located in Boston's historic South End neighborhood. Boston offers exceptional quality of life, world-class academic and cultural institutions, outstanding public schools, and a vibrant research ecosystem anchored by its concentration of leading universities, hospitals, and biotechnology companies.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials as a single PDF package:
Cover letter describing research interests, career goals, and alignment with the Department's mission
Current curriculum vitae
Research statement outlining current program and 5-year vision (2 pages maximum)
Names and contact information for three professional references
Please submit materials to: maureen.demmert@bmc.org
