Careers
Postdoc Opportunity: Plant-based Diets, Food Systems, Health and the Environment
The Stanford Plant-Based Diet Initiative (PBDI) and the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health (HPH) are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral fellow interested in advancing interdisciplinary research and making an impact on human health and the environment.
PBDI, based at the Stanford School of Medicine’s Prevention Research Center, led by prominent nutrition scientist Dr. Christopher Gardner and made possible by a generous gift from Beyond Meat, is dedicated to researching the health and environmental benefits of plant-based diets. HPH is a new center based at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Woods Institute for the Environment, in partnership with the School of Medicine’s Center for Innovation in Global Health. HPH’s focus area, “Food Systems, Health and the Environment” envisions a food system that provides healthy, affordable human nutrition while supporting thriving biodiverse terrestrial and aquatic environments, and reducing carbon emissions from the agricultural sector.
PBDI and HPH are concerned about a broken food system, unhealthy diets, and their impacts on human health and the environment. They are excited to collaborate in offering an opportunity for a postdoc to advance solution-oriented research in this area. The fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to Dr. Gardner’s current research, The fellow will also be expected to support the formation and development of research ideas that will emerge from a new, interdisciplinary Stanford food systems working group. The postdoc will be responsible for writing proposals seeking funding to expand and sustain these research ideas.
This fellowship is confirmed for one year, with a flexible start-date no later than September 2025. The position could be extended based on performance and availability of funding. The postdoc will receive a competitive postdoctoral salary based on Stanford University guidelines, and full benefits.
Required Qualifications:
- Recently completed PhD, DrPH, MD, or other doctoral degree in a discipline related to nutrition, food systems, or sustainable agriculture.
- Experience working in interdisciplinary settings that combine multiple perspectives and disciplines, ideally across topics including nutrition, sustainable food choices, food systems, food security, sustainable agriculture, agro-ecology, and global health.
- Excellent oral and written English-language communication skills.
- Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Experience securing funding for research is preferred.
- Applications from underrepresented minority groups are encouraged to apply.
Required Application Materials:
- A cover letter describing your research accomplishments, areas of interest, career goals, and relevant experience. (2 page max)
- CV
- Two representative writing samples, ideally one submitted funding proposal and one published academic article.
- Contact information for three references.
How to Apply: Submit all application materials to stanford-hph@stanford.edu by May 30, 2025. Please write ‘PBDI/HPH Postdoc Application’ in the subject line of the email.