[AY26-27] Postdoctoral Researcher - Cesarean Sections - Innovations In Health Sciences (IHS)

ABOUT VINUNIVERSITY 

VinUniversity (VinUni) is Vietnam’s first private, not-for-profit university established to international standards, with the vision of becoming one of the world’s top 100 universities. Guided by its core values of Empathy, Creativity, Leadership Mindset, Exceptional Capability, and Entrepreneurial Spirit (EXCEL), VinUni is committed to developing outstanding talent and generating research with meaningful impact in Vietnam and globally. 

Founded by Vingroup, one of Asia’s leading private conglomerates, VinUni benefits from a dynamic ecosystem spanning Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture, and Social Enterprises. This ecosystem provides distinctive opportunities for interdisciplinary research, innovation, technology translation, and industry–academia collaboration through leading organizations including VinFast, Vinmec, Vinschool, and Vinhomes, together with an expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem comprising VinVentures, VinMotion, VinRobotics, VinSpace, VinEnergo, and others. 

VinUni comprises four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Management, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the College of Health Sciences. The University has established strategic partnerships with leading international institutions, including Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Nanyang Technological University, to advance excellence in education, research, and innovation. 

In 2024, VinUni became the youngest and fastest university globally to achieve QS 5-Star University status, receiving the highest rating in nine categories, including Global Engagement, Good Governance, Program Strength, Academic Development, Teaching, Employability, Facilities, Arts, and Social Impact. VinUni has also been appointed by UNESCO as a UNESCO Chair University, focusing on Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage, and Biodiversity. 

As a rapidly developing, research-intensive university, VinUni is investing substantially in world-class researchers, advanced research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary research programs to generate transformative discoveries in health sciences, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, environmental intelligence, policy development, and sustainable societies. 

ABOUT INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH SCIENCES 

Innovations in Health Sciences focuses on four strategic research pillars: Immunology, Stem Cell & Gene Technology, Precision Medicine&Health Tech and Population Health & Health Systems. At Innovations in Health Sciences (IHS), we aim to comprehensively address and develop innovative solutions that promote health, wellness, and disease prevention, enhance early detection, and provide novel and affordable precision medicine solutions to the most common health issues in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Additionally, we aim to be the leading authority on healthcare access and the social determinants of health shaping outcomes across Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with the goal of developing policies, practices, and interventions that improve health and well-being.  

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

IHS is looking for highly motivated postdoctoral researchers who are committed to advancing impactful, mission-driven science contributing to the Center’s growing research ecosystem of interdisciplinary health research. 

The postdoctoral researcher will join different research projects focused on maternal health including: 

• Global environmental impacts of cesarean sections mediated by infant feeding practices  

• Prevalence of cesarean births in public and private hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam 

• Using intrapartum fetal surveillance technologies to shape nurse-midwives’ capacity to support women’s freedom of movement during labor 

• Gestational diabetes mellitus 

Working within a multidisciplinary team at IHS, the postdoc will contribute to literature review, data cleaning and analysis, and the preparation of scientific outputs that directly advance the project’s research aims and broader institutional priorities.  

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Roles & responsibilities: 

The successful candidate will be the driving force behind the project’s success and will be expected to: 

Research Implementation and Coordination 

• Support the design, implementation, and management of mentioned research studies 

• Coordinate data collection, fieldwork, and site activities in Hanoi 

• Ensure adherence to research protocols, timelines, and ethics requirements 

• Contribute to project monitoring, documentation, and progress reporting 

Data Analysis and Scientific Publications 

• Lead or contribute to quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis 

• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed international journals 

• Contribute to technical reports, policy briefs, and dissemination outputs 

• Support preparation of conference abstracts and presentations 

Grant Development and Research Expansion 

• Contribute to the development of national and international grant proposals including conduct literature reviews; support study design and methodology; assist with budgeting, workplans, and proposal documentation 

Capacity Building and Mentorship 

• Supervise and mentor research assistants and students 

• Contribute to training workshops and research capacity development 

Expected Deliverables: 

• Served as the main author of at least two Q1 papers (first or corresponding author) 

• Being the co-author of other involving manuscripts 

Qualification: 

• PhD in public health, health sciences, epidemiology, or a related field 

• Demonstrated research focuses on population health, women’s health, or maternal health 

• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications 

Professional and Personal Attributes 

• Strong organizational and project-management skills 

• Strong data cleaning and analysis skills, particularly quantitative and meta-analysis 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in international teams 

• Proficiency in both English and Vietnamese 

• Interest in a long-term academic or global-health research career 

Appointment Details: 

• Salary: Competitive commensurate with experience  

• Contract: The position is offered on a yearly contract basis. The initial contract is renewed, typically for one year, subject to availability of funds, project needs, satisfactory performance, and approval from IHS. 

• Principal Investigator: A successful candidate will work under management of Dr. Doan Thi Thuy Duong, whose research focuses on women and child health. Additional details about their work can be found here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Gx967mgAAAAJ&hl=en. 

How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter detailing their research experience and motivation for these specific projects, along with a comprehensive CV, to the Principal Investigator Doan Thi Thuy Duong, email: [email protected] before October 30th. Please include “Postdoc Application: cesarean sections” in the subject line of your email.