Public Health Fellow – Scientific Writer

City of Boston Residency Requirement

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. All residents will have equitable opportunities and resources, leading to optimal health and well-being. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

We are seeking a Public Health Fellow to support an exceptional opportunity to work alongside leadership and to bridge the gap between complex scientific analysis and clear, impactful communication. This position is for a period of six months and is located within the Center for Public Health Science and Innovation. The Fellow will collaborate closely with leadership teams across the Commission to ensure crucial public health information is conveyed with clarity and precision.

Reporting to the Director of Epidemiology and Evaluation this role ensures the accurate and accessible dissemination of research findings and technical information to diverse audiences, including stakeholders, academic peers, and the public. By employing expertise in research synthesis, manuscript development, and editorial precision, the position supports the creation of high-quality publications and reports that advance knowledge, inform policy, and contribute to evidence-based decision-making in public health. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest in population health dynamics and social determinants of health. Competitive applicants will have superior writing skills, robust quantitative skills, and an aptitude for translational research in population health and social epidemiology.

Essential Functions

• Draft and submit well-crafted, high-quality manuscripts that meet publication requirements in peer-reviewed journals.
• Lead and actively participate in the preparation of written reports and oral presentations summarizing data analysis results, including detailed description of statistical methods, detailed analysis of results, and synthesis of conclusions for internal and external meetings, scientific conferences, and academic journals.
• Conduct critical literature review of epidemiological and surveillance studies for study design and publication efforts.
• Collaborate with leadership to present study findings clearly and accurately.
• Ensure adherence to submission guidelines for journals.
• Support development of content for social media, newsletters, and web pages to communicate study outcomes to improve the visibility of research initiatives with measurable audience engagement across communication channels.
• Create and support creation of visually engaging materials to simplify complex information for non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Keeps abreast of the latest statistical techniques, their implementation and interpretations.
• Perform other duties as directed by leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Deep understanding of the fundamentals and principles of social determinants of health, epidemiology, biostatistics, spatial analyses, public health, and data visualization.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with public health and healthcare professionals and internal partners.
• Proven ability to manage writing and publication projects involving cross-functional collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
• Expertise in scientific and technical writing, editing, and manuscript development for peer-reviewed journals.
• Exceptional ability to interpret advanced statistical analysis and spatial data analyses.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize information from literature reviews and study findings to form a new understanding, identify patterns, develop insightful conclusions, and create a coherent whole.
• Knowledge and application of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements and protection of health information.
• Willingness to learn and apply new statistical and computing techniques to forward the epidemiological work of the Commission.
• High level analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and work independently.
• Demonstrate reliability and integrity.

Education/Experience

• Master’s or doctoral degree in epidemiology, public health, or related field.
• At least one year of related work experience in scientific writing, editing, and research support for manuscript development and publication is strongly preferred.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills tailored for diverse audiences.
• Strong research and analytical skills for literature reviews and content synthesis.
• Advanced knowledge and experience with statistical software – R or R studio, SAS, Python is strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of GIS applications and software such as ArcGIS or QGIS or mapping packages in R is highly desirable.
• Strong project management and organizational skills to handle multiple deliverables simultaneously.
• Proactive in continuous learning and staying updated on emerging trends in research and communication.

Additional Information

• City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Shift

Part-Time/Casual/29 hours per week

Grant Funding Information

This position is not dependent on grants / external funding sources.

Pay Range

$50/HR - $60/HR