Cedars-Sinai Fellowship in the History of Medicine

The Program in the History of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center seeks an outstanding candidate for a two-year fellow in the history of medicine to start July 1st, 2019.  The appointee will be proposed for an academic title of Instructor of Biomedical Sciences. This is expected to be a joint venture with the History Department at the University of California Los Angeles.  Applications from individuals who study questions relevant to the history of medicine in the modern period are welcome, with preference for deeply researched projects that emphasize the history of human disease and medical practice, and which would benefit especially from being situated in a contemporary medical institution. (The PhD must be in hand before the fellowship’s start date.)  The appointee, with the expectation of a concurrent appointment as Visiting Faculty in UCLA’s Department of History, will enjoy substantial time to pursue research, and will have teaching assignments in both institutions. 

The Program in the History of Medicine, now in its second year, is a unit within the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Graduate Research Education, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Medical Center, in the heart of Los Angeles, is one of the nation’s leading non-profit medical institutions.  It is a teaching hospital of UCLA and has a large academic enterprise with substantial extramural funding. 

The Cedars-Sinai’s Program in the History of Medicine explores the body and its cultural contexts from the early modern period to the present. Researchers cover a wide range of sub-disciplines and seek to educate the medical community about the shapes that medicine and science have taken across the centuries. Our inquiry is bound by a commitment to rigor and experiment, and an ecumenical embrace of methods, disciplines, and evidence. Through original research and educational programming, we seek to understand the knowledge of the past with reference to the knowledge we generate today. Our Joffe Fellow would be joining a growing history of medicine team.  

The Program is cooperating with the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine field in UCLA’s Department of History to identify and develop research and pedagogical initiatives in the history of medicine.  Upon successful appointment as visiting faculty, the researcher will have academic privileges at UCLA.  

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.     

Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Candidates are requested to address the following materials to Dr. Leon Fine, Director of the Cedars-Sinai Program in the History of Medicine:

• a cover letter
• curriculum vitae 
• a statement of possible future research direction with an explanation of how the current project (or projects) enrich the purpose of the history and/or philosophy of medicine now (1500 words maximum)
• one published writing sample (i.e. an article or book chapter)
• the names and email addresses of three referees who have agreed to write on the candidate’s behalf

The Stephen and Sandra Joffe Research Fellow in the Program in the History of Medicine works independently and in cooperation with the Program Director to make significant and creative contributions to research and scholarship in the history of medicine.  The Fellow may be an ongoing member of a research team or may work independently for a limited period of time to contribute high-level expertise and experience to a specific research or creative program.  The Fellow develops an independent research reputation and will have teaching responsibilities as determined by the Program director.  In addition, the Fellow will contribute to the administration of day-to-day program operations under the supervision of a member of the Professorial Structure.  

Essential Job Duties

• Assist in preparation of grant proposals, submissions, publications and presentations but is not responsible for generating grant funds.
• Serve as PI for certain grants as approved by supervising member of the Professorial Series.
• Participate in publications and presentations as author or co-author. 
• Develop, adapt and implement new research techniques and protocols.  
• Analyzes, interprets, summarizes and compiles quantitative and qualitative research.  
• Lead or train Staff Research Associates and Postdoctoral Researchers.
• Appointees on an academic trajectory will be expected to commit a portion of their time to developing an independent range of research.
• Assists in generating original programming ideas for the Program’s Journals Club, Seminar Series, and possible Program colloquia, and potentially Program curriculum.  
• Analyzes, interprets, summarizes and compiles data and qualitative research.  
• May be tapped to teach courses in the history of medicine at partner institutions and the public, where appropriate.  
• Assists in creating a social media presence for the Program.  
• Educates Program faculty and affiliates about the contemporary history of medicine landscape, nationally and internationally.  

Deadline for submission:  January 15th, 2019.  

We will contact select candidates for preliminary Skype interviews by February 5th, 2019.

Educational Requirements

• PhD or highest degree in their field.

Experience

• Knowledge of the history of modern medicine, with preference for research interest in the practice of medicine and human disease. 
• Demonstrated significant, original, and creative potential to conduct a research or creative program or project
• Demonstrated competency in a variety of research strategies, methods, techniques, and protocols.
• Introductory level teaching experience at the collegiate level.