DescriptionPosition: Senior Research Scientist
Department: NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research
Supervisor: Dr. Fred Ssewamala
The NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, housed within the Silver School of Social Work, invites applications for a Senior Research Scientist. The primary focus of this role is to design, lead, and sustain a high-impact, externally funded research portfolio focused on
critical social issues relevant to the mission of the Institute. The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of Social Work and Social Policy values and research methodologies, with a proven track record of securing federal or foundation funding, publishing
in top-tier peer-reviewed social work, social policy and interdisciplinary journals, and engaging with community stakeholders.
Primary ResponsibilitiesResearch Excellence, Community and Policy Engagement & Leadership- Conceive, design, and execute independent and collaborative research programs addressing critical areas relevant to the mission of McSilver Institute.
- Maintain a consistent record of high-impact publications in peer-reviewed social work, public health, or public policy journals.
- Present research findings regularly at major national conferences, such as the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Social and Public Policy forums, and Regional, National and Global Public Health forums.
- Engage with community partners, non-profit organizations, or federal, state, and city agencies to ensure research is translationally impactful, community-informed, and culturally responsive.
- Ensure strict compliance with all institutional, state, federal, and institutional review board (IRB) ethical guidelines governing human subjects research.
Grant Acquisition & Financial Management- Serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on competitive external research grants (e.g., NIH, NSF, SAMHSA, HRSA, or major private foundations).
- Actively identify new funding streams and lead and/or contribute to multi-disciplinary, collaborative proposal submissions.
- Oversee and manage allocated project budgets, ensuring appropriate allocation of grant expenditures and compliance with sponsor guidelines.
Mentorship & Team Supervision- Supervise and mentor postdoctoral fellows, doctoral students, graduate research assistants, and project staff.
- Cultivate an inclusive, safe, and highly collaborative research environment. Oversee performance evaluations, professional development, and day-to-day workloads of research personnel.
Institutional Service & Collaboration- Participate in faculty meetings and doctoral dissertation committees as requested.
- Foster interdisciplinary research partnerships across different schools within NYU, academic and research institutions, and community and public policy stakeholders.
QualificationsREQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS- Education: Ph.D. in Social Work, Public Policy, Economics, or a closely related social science discipline (e.g., Public Health, Sociology, Human Development).
- Experience: A minimum of 3 to 7 years of postdoctoral research or equivalent investigator experience, with at least 2 years in a Research Assistant Professor or equivalent senior research role.
- Funding Track Record: Documented history of securing competitive external research funding (e.g., NIH R01/R21, federal agency awards, or major foundation grants) as a PI or Co-PI.
- Publication Record: A robust portfolio of primary-author or senior-author publications in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- A track record of translating research into social policy impacts or scalable clinical/community interventions.
- Strong background in supervising doctoral students and managing multi-site research projects.
Application Instructions Interested applicants should apply via NYU's Interfolio system. Be sure to include a cover letter outlining research career goals and strategic fit with the Silver School of Social Work and the McSilver Institute; comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) including complete funding and publication history; a detailed Statement of Research Intentions and Community Impact (maximum 3 pages); and the contact information of four professional references with your application.
Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Only applicants who apply via Interfolio will be considered for this position. The institute seeks to fill this position immediately.
Please note:
• NYU McSilver is currently operating on a hybrid schedule of 3-days a week in-person.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship including STEM OPT extension. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for the duration of employment.
This position is full-time and includes a generous benefits package.
In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary for this position is $135,000-$150,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. 
