Postdoctoral Associate in Health Systems Engineering

Cornell University's Center for Transportation, Environment, and Community Health (CTECH)--a U.S. Department of Transportation Tier 1 University Transportation Research Center dedicated to advancing sustainable technology-enabled mobility for public and planetary health--located in Ithaca, NY, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in Health Systems Engineering (Health Systems Data Analysis, Modeling, Computing, and Cloud-Based Health Systems Analytics and Decision Support Platforms) as part of the CTECH Postdoctoral Fellows program.

This position offers the unique opportunity to conduct deeply interdisciplinary research spanning engineering systems, health informatics, clinical operations, data science, and decision support, contributing to the emerging research frontier of healthcare systems engineering. The Fellow will be jointly mentored by faculty from Cornell Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine and will engage in research that advances methodological innovation while addressing real challenges in healthcare delivery.

Position Overview

The Postdoctoral Associate will contribute to research at the intersection of:

• Health systems engineering and systems architecting
• AI/ML-driven clinical and operational decision support
• Digital health and learning health systems
• Healthcare operations, resource allocation, and workflow optimization
• Network, graph, and agent-based modeling for care delivery
• Health equity, patient access, and system resilience
• Multi-modal data integration using EHR, claims, environmental, and behavioral datasets

The successful candidate will work with interdisciplinary teams of engineers, health informaticians, clinicians, data scientists, and behavioral scientists from Cornell Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine. The role includes opportunities to collaborate with New York Presbyterian Hospital, hospital operations teams, and partners in the digital health and health delivery ecosystem.

Research Responsibilities

Responsibilities will vary depending on the Fellow's background, but may include:

• Developing machine learning, optimization, or simulation models to improve clinical operations and resource allocation
• Advancing systems engineering methods for health delivery design, evaluation, and transformation
• Designing and implementing agent-based, network, or graph models to study patient flow, care pathways, and population-level outcomes
• Creating data-driven and privacy-aware decision-support tools for clinicians, administrators, or patients
• Integrating multi-source, high-dimensional datasets (EHR, claims, environmental/socioeconomic data, sensor data)
• Contributing to translational research that tightens the loop between engineering innovation and clinical practice
• Disseminating findings through high-impact journals, conferences, and stakeholder engagements

The Fellow will be encouraged and mentored to establish an independent research trajectory and develop skills necessary for a future faculty or research leadership career.

Methodological Areas of Interest Applicants with experience in the following areas are especially encouraged to apply:

• Optimization (deterministic, stochastic, robust, reinforcement learning-based)
• Systems architecture and design for complex socio-technical systems
• Graph theory, network science, and knowledge representation
• Agent-based and simulation modeling
• AI/ML, foundation models, causal inference, and predictive analytics
• Human factors, behavior science, and patient-centered design
• Advanced computing and scalable algorithms
• Decision science and learning health systems design

Qualifications

Required:

• Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Biomedical Informatics, Health Information Technology, or a related field
• Evidence of high-quality research productivity (publications, presentations, software, system prototypes)
• Strong analytical and computational skills (e.g., Python, R; simulation or optimization tools)
• Experience working with real-world datasets, ideally including clinical, operational, or health-related data
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact with multidisciplinary collaborators

Preferred:

• Research experience with EHR, claims, or clinical workflow data
• Experience with healthcare operations, health policy analysis, clinical decision support, or translational informatics
• Background in systems engineering modeling applied to human-centered or safety-critical environments
• Interest in preparing for a career as a faculty member or research leader in engineering, informatics, public health, or health systems science

Through this website, applicants are to submit a cover letter describing research interests and how their expertise fits this position, curriculum vitae that includes a complete list of publications, a research statement on future research interests and directions, and career goals, etc. (3-page maximum, single space), graduate transcripts, three publications relevant to the topic and provide contact information for at least three references.

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

The salary range reflects an aggregate of qualifications and disciplines across Cornell University.

Minimum starting salary is $62,232.

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

Prior relevant work or industry experience.

Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.

Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

Unique applicable skills.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.

Pay Range:

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.

• Academic Discipline

• Unique applicable skills.

Employment Assistance:

Notice to Applicants:

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.