Postdoctoral Position Transportation Jobs in California

Post-Doctoral Research Scholar

This position is open until filled with an initial application review to take place after May 7, 2026. To receive full consideration, a cover letter needs to be submitted along with a resume and completed employment application. The salary for this position is budgeted at $5,858.67 per month and is non-negotiable. Please note that due to the potential for the contamination of study samples, the incumbent must be able to confirm that they are not exposed to active use or residue from tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or cannabis.

San Diego State University's Center for Tobacco and the Environment (CTE), co-directed by Georg E. Matt, PhD, and Thomas Novotny, MD, PhD, is an extramurally funded center established in 2022. CTE's mission is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate tobacco's toxic legacy of environmental pollution and harm to human health caused by decades of commercial tobacco sales and use through the creation of an open, community-engaged, inter- and transdisciplinary research center that serves the diverse communities affected by the environmental impacts of commercial tobacco sales and use. CTE provides an organizational platform for the next generation of research that seeks solutions to human exposure and environmental contamination resulting from decades of tobacco use, and contributes to California's comprehensive policy initiatives to end commercial tobacco sales and use by 2035.

CTE is home to a well-established group of multi-disciplinary scholars from different colleges at SDSU, including Health and Human Services, Sciences, Arts & Letters, and Professional Studies & Fine Arts, whose work focuses on the environmental impacts of commercial tobacco use.

Researchers at CTE conduct multiple extramurally funded research projects focused on tobacco and the indoor and outdoor environment, including the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center and the Policy Research Center for Tobacco and the Environment. Established in 2019, the mission of the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center is to disseminate thirdhand smoke-related information to the general public, stakeholders, and tobacco control advocates.

The Resource Center's interactive website is the primary dissemination channel, supported by a robust social media presence (i.e., Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram), webinars, and print material such as newsletter articles and press releases. The Policy Research Center for Tobacco and the Environment, established in 2023, has two main policy goals: (1) reduce tobacco product waste to protect local environments, and (2) protect indoor and outdoor environments from the toxic pollutants caused by commercial tobacco. Both centers are funded by California's Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program.

The purpose of this Post-Doctoral Research Scholar position is to provide mentored, advanced training to enhance professional skills and research independence in tobacco prevention and the environment. The scholar will be mentored by Georg Matt, PhD with contributions from the interdisciplinary group of faculty at CTE.

This position is full-time, in-person, with the possibility for limited remote work (i.e., <8 hours/week). The office is open during normal business hours Monday through Friday, however some research activities. Events outside of normal business hours are infrequent, typically 2-3 times each month. Reliable transportation is required.

Responsibilities

The Post-Doctoral Research Scholar will function as a contributing member of the interdisciplinary team of scientists at CTE who have a more than 20-year history of investigating issues related to tobacco and the environment. The team is committed to examining research questions that will inform policy and ultimately protect the public from the toxic legacy of tobacco indoors and outdoors.

The primary responsibility of this position is management of field-based research projects examining the tobacco pollution in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Specific duties include:

Research Activities 50%

Manage ongoing funded projects, coordinate day-to-day operations of field research studies

Community engagement, develop research protocols, develop and implement staff training, coordinate data collection activities, data management, and prepare reports for community partners, stakeholders, and policy makers

Data Analysis, Manuscript Writing and Grant Proposals 35%

Contribute to data analysis, manuscript writing, and presentation of findings at professional conferences

Contribute to writing and submission of competitive proposals for extramural funding

Submit a NIH or TRDRP grant within first year of employment

Mentorship 10%

Mentor/supervise undergraduate and graduate student research assistants who contribute to all phases of the research process

Other duties as assigned 5%

Qualifications

Minimum Education

• A doctoral degree in an appropriate field
• 0-5 years of relevant experience

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual's qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.