Materials and questions should be sent by email to asbushne@med.umich.edu. Please use the subject line Fellowship Application. Please submit:

• A written statement describing your research qualifications, experience and specific interest in opioid and pain research, and long-term career goals (up to 3 pages) 
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from your current graduate or clinical residency training program.
• Graduate-level academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
• Two writing samples, preferably a copy of a previously published manuscript(s) and/or papers from a dissertation thesis.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled. Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

The Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN) at the University of Michigan invites applications from exceptional early-career research investigators for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pharmacoepidemiology and Pain/Opioid Outcomes Research. This two-year, mentored training program provides intensive, hands-on experience in real-world data analysis, causal inference, and comparative effectiveness research with direct application to improving pain care, opioid stewardship, and substance use treatment across clinical and public health settings. 

Fellows will gain deep expertise in advance pharmaco-epidemiological methodologies, claims and linked administrative data, and evaluation of controlled substance prescribing patterns and outcomes in acute and chronic pain populations. Training includes analytic skill development, manuscript preparation, project management, and grant writing, supported by mentorship from NIH-, PCORI-, and CDC-funded investigators within a nationally recognized research network. Through close collaboration with faculty mentors, fellows will clarify a research focus, build an individualized career development plan, and product work that directly informs policy and practice. The programs goal is to prepare fellows for independent, externally funded academic careers in pharmacoepidemiology or health services research.  

Successful candidates may come from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and have prior experience working in clinical research, clinical implementation, and/or public health. Selection will be based on scholarly potential and compatibility with interests of a faculty mentor. Candidates from all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply. We seek to engage talented researchers with wide ranging perspectives and diverse research and life experiences to help further our mission.

The successful candidate(s) will have:

• Completed a doctoral degree program (MD, PhD, DrPH, PharmD, or equivalent) by the starting date.
• Demonstrated commitment to pharmacoepidemiology, health services, or outcomes research; experience with opioid-related and pain research preferred. 
• Proficiency in quantitative analysis of claims, EHR, or administrative datasets using SAS, Stata, or R 
• Evidence of scholarly productivity and interest in policy-relevant, real-world evidence generation
• A strong desire to work with multi-disciplinary collaborators.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for working in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative environment
• Ability to commit to a full-time professional effort based in Ann Arbor, Michigan for up to two years.

Note: Eligible applicants must be citizens, noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S. 

Fellows will actively contribute to ongoing research projects led by faculty mentors, participating in all stages of the scientific process, from idea generation of scientific ideas/hypotheses, data analysis and interpretation, as well as manuscript preparation for submission to high impact peer-reviewed journals. They will work with a multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative team of clinicians, health services researchers, policy experts, analysts, and administrative staff.  Examples of research projects may include, but are not limited to, research focused on prescribing recommendations, effectiveness research on individual interventions, implementation studies that translate evidence-based interventions for preventing overdose, data modeling, national surveys, policy research, epidemiological research, and health services research on pain, addiction, and overdose. 

Expectations

Selection will be based on scholarly potential and compatibility with research interests and experience of faculty mentors. This is a hybrid position and fellows are expected to work in person at least two days per week. Fellows are expected to actively engage in regular training program activities including seminars and forum discussions. They will present and share research findings in a range of settings including project/team meetings and scientific meetings and conferences. We anticipate each fellow will work with their primary and secondary mentors research teams and be involved in manuscript submissions.

The Overdose Prevention Engagement Network was launched originally in 2016 as the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, and in recent years expanded focus beyond opioid prescribing for acute pain treatment to include overdose prevention, treatment and recovery. OPEN is a diverse team dedicated to improving lives and reducing harms of substance use. With an overarching goal of developing transformative, evidence-based solutions to reduce harm and stigma surrounding substance use, we work daily to transform how healthcare providers and communities understand and approach substance use disorders at every level. Fellows will have access to unique linked data resources, opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration, and structured mentorship through the University of Michigan Department of Anesthesiology and School of Public Health.

• Completed a doctoral degree program (MD, PhD, DrPH, PharmD, or equivalent) by the starting date.
• Demonstrated commitment to pharmacoepidemiology, health services, or outcomes research; experience with opioid-related and pain research preferred. 
• Proficiency in quantitative analysis of claims, EHR, or administrative datasets using SAS, Stata, or R 
• Evidence of scholarly productivity and interest in policy-relevant, real-world evidence generation
• A strong desire to work with multi-disciplinary collaborators.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for working in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative environment
• Ability to commit to a full-time professional effort based in Ann Arbor, Michigan for up to two years.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Compensation and Benefits

This Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position includes:

• We aim to offer a competitive salary above the current NRSA stipend levels.
• The University of Michigan?s full standard benefit package including medical, dental, and vision as detailed here: https://hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness.
• Dedicated funds to support professional development opportunities including travel funds to scientific conferences, participation in technical seminars and course(s), and other research-related project expenses. 
• Paid sick leave, vacation time, holidays, and additional benefits.
• A full overview providing general information about the benefits for postdoctoral research fellows can be found here: https://myumi.ch/XnP8r

• We are accepting applications for appointments beginning Fall of 2025.
• To be eligible for this fellowship, applicants must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.
• The statements included in this description are intended to reflect the general nature of work and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.