Postdoctoral Fellow

Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology to join the scientific leadership team supporting the landmark prospective mother-and-child cohort study, the Mutaba'ah Study. The Mutaba'ah Study is the first and largest prospective mother-and-child cohort study in the United Arab Emirates. Established in 2017, the study follows more than 18,000 pregnancies and their children from pregnancy through infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The study provides a unique national platform for investigating the developmental origins of health and disease and generating evidence to improve maternal and child health policy and practice in the UAE and beyond. Position Overview We are seeking an ambitious and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with expertise in epidemiology, population health, maternal and child health, biostatistics, or related disciplines to contribute to the scientific development and international visibility of the Mutaba'ah Study. The successful candidate will have access to one of the largest and richest maternal and child health datasets in the region and will be expected to lead high-impact research projects, publish in internationally recognized journals, contribute to grant development, and support the supervision of graduate students. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop an independent research portfolio within a large prospective cohort study while collaborating with national and international experts across multiple disciplines. Research Areas of Interest Candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply: Maternal health and pregnancy outcomes Perinatal epidemiology Child and adolescent health Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Non-communicable diseases Maternal nutrition Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing Health services and healthcare utilization Congenital anomalies Reproductive epidemiology Environmental and social determinants of health Advanced epidemiological methods Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in population health The study currently supports a broad portfolio of research projects across these and related areas. Key Responsibilities Research Leadership and Scientific Productivity Develop and lead original research projects using data from the Mutaba'ah Study. Conduct advanced epidemiological, statistical, and population health analyses. Lead the preparation and submission of manuscripts to high-impact peer-reviewed journals. Present research findings at national and international scientific conferences. Contribute to the development of innovative research questions addressing maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health. Student Supervision and Mentorship Support the supervision and mentorship of MSc, MPH, PhD, and medical students. Assist students in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and dissemination activities. Contribute to research training activities within the Institute of Public Health. Grant Development and Research Funding Contribute to the preparation of grant proposals and funding applications. Participate in the development of collaborative research initiatives and new research programs. Support reporting requirements associated with funded projects. Collaboration and Scientific Networking Establish and maintain national and international research collaborations. Work closely with epidemiologists, clinicians, statisticians, data scientists, and public health researchers. Contribute to multidisciplinary research teams investigating a wide range of maternal and child health outcomes. Knowledge Translation and Impact Contribute to translating research findings into evidence that can inform healthcare practice and public health policy. Support dissemination activities.

**PhD in:** Epidemiology Public Health Biostatistics Population Health Maternal and Child Health Health Sciences Or a closely related discipline.

Evidence of peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Experience conducting independent quantitative research.

Strong analytical and scientific writing skills.

Strong publication record relative to career stage.

Experience working with cohort studies, longitudinal data, registries, or large healthcare databases.

Experience supervising graduate students or junior researchers.

Experience preparing grant applications or participating in funded research projects.

Expertise in advanced epidemiological methods, causal inference, or predictive modeling.

Experience working in international collaborative research environments.

**The ideal candidate will demonstrate:** Research and Analytical Skills Advanced knowledge of epidemiological study design and analysis.

Proficiency in statistical software such as R, Stata, SAS, Python, or equivalent.

Experience analyzing large and complex datasets.

Ability to independently manage research projects from conception to publication.

Academic Skills Excellent scientific writing skills.

Strong publication and dissemination experience.

Ability to communicate complex findings to scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Experience reviewing scientific literature and developing research proposals.

Leadership and Mentorship Skills Ability to supervise and mentor graduate students.

Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.

Ability to contribute to a positive and productive research environment.

Personal Attributes Highly motivated and intellectually curious.

Independent and proactive researcher.

Strong organizational and project management skills.

Commitment to scientific excellence and research integrity.

**Interested candidates should submit:** Cover letter describing research interests and suitability for the position.

Full CV, research statement

before the closing date.