HBS Postdoctoral Training

About Our Postdoctoral Opportunities 

Interested in postdoctoral training and mentoring in social and behavioral theories, research methodology, and public health practice? The Department of Health, Behavior and Society offers postdoctoral fellowships that provide new doctoral graduates with the opportunity to earn valuable research experience working with our faculty.

On average, postdoctoral opportunities are one to two years in length. Postdoctoral fellows are considered non-degree seeking students. All positions are full-time and funded through federal training grants, institutional grants, or private contracts. All postdoctoral positions must provide proof of a doctoral-level degree (PhD, DrPH, MD, etc.).

Become an HBS Postdoctoral Fellow

If you are interested in becoming a postdoctoral fellow, you should first contact an HBS faculty member who works in your area of interest. 

For further details about how postdoctoral appointments are made, visit the School's process for appointing postdoctoral fellows page.

Additional Resources for Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral fellows also have access to a range of programs and resources beyond the Department, including the Johns Hopkins Postdoctoral Association. For more information, please visit the School of Public Health’s postdoctoral training page, where you’ll find more information about our postdoctoral community and related links, including the current Guidebook for Postdoctoral Fellows with detailed information about the benefits, services and policies for postdoctoral fellows. The Johns Hopkins Office of the Provost’s prospective postdocs page also includes helpful information, such as housing resources.

Reflections from Former HBS Postdocs

“I found my time spent as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society  at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to be an incredibly rewarding experience.  My post-doc experience provided structure while also allowing me to work independently and on topics that interested me.  I was given the opportunity to co-author numerous papers, make many research presentations, and collaborate and network with people in my field.  The experience also gave me the opportunity to form lasting professional and personal relationships.  I would highly recommend this program/experience to future postdocs.” — Elyse R. Grossman, PhD, JD

“As a tenure-track assistant professor, I reflect on time as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society with the utmost fondest. In fact, I know I would not be the researcher I am today if it not for the incredible training I received during my postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Sara Benjamin-Neelon at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. I also know that my postdoctoral training gave me an advantage when applying to faculty positions because I was highly prepared and confident to move to the next step in my career. The overall environment at the school, including career and research-specific training and networking opportunities grew my interest and expertise in the field of public health. Further, the mentorship I received during my postdoctoral fellowship was exceptional;  I received one-on-one mentorship tailored to meet my areas of interest and areas of additional training. I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to solidify my passion and interest in public health and gain additional research skills and training. To this day, I still have a great relationship with my mentor and collaborate with colleagues at Hopkins.” — Kara Skelton, PhD