Education & Training

Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Berman Institute’s wide and growing array of postdoctoral fellowships are helping launch the careers of the next generation of bioethics scholars.

The Berman Institute is pleased to invite applications for the Hecht-Levi Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Bioethics. The Program is seeking a few uniquely qualified postdoctoral applicants to begin this two-year fellowship in September 2022.  Although an extensive background in bioethics is not required, priority will be given to applicants with at least some exposure to bioethics during their education. The selection process is highly competitive, with only a few Fellows accepted into the program each year. The Berman Institute also welcomes applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Ethics and Regulatory Aspects of Pragmatic Clinical Trials and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ethics and Infectious Disease.

All Berman Institute postdoctoral fellows are considered members of the Hecht-Levi Fellows cohort and are expected to participate in the Hecht-Levi Fellows activities described below.

Learn more about resources for Postdocs at Johns Hopkins University.

Hecht-Levi Fellowship

The Hecht-Levi Fellowship is a two-year program of study and experiential learning in bioethics administered by the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. The main goal of the Fellowship is to launch the careers of the next generation of bioethics scholars, so the program offers a considerable amount of protected time for research and publication.

All Hecht-Levi Fellows participate in weekly seminars or discussions, pursue their own scholarship in bioethics, and collaborate with faculty on selected projects in bioethics. Each Fellow designs an individual program tailored to her or his particular goals, interests, and background.

Hecht‐Levi Postdoctoral Fellows have access to a wide range of benefits and activities in multiple schools at Johns Hopkins, including:

  • Weekly seminars, presentations and discussions with leading academic and policy makers;
  • Individualized research program;
  • Bioethics coursework through the Berman Institute’s Master in Bioethics program;
  • Postdoctoral mentoring in bioethics;
  • Professional development training;
  • Participation in the Berman Institute’s outreach efforts via social media;
  • Teaching opportunities (commensurate with experience and background);
  • $62,500 per year, plus health and other benefits
  • $2,000 per year for travel/lodging and registration at relevant conferences

The application window for the Fall 2021 Hecht-Levi Fellowship opens Oct. 17, 2021. Applications are due on Friday, December 19, 2021 and must be uploaded via Interfolio.

Please be prepared to submit the following documents:

  • Cover Letter
  • Personal statement
  • CV
  • Copy of Graduate Transcript(s)
  • Writing Sample
  • Three Letters of Reference

For more information on the Hecht-Levi Fellowship, please contact the Director of Education Initiatives, Professor Gail Geller, at ggeller@jhu.edu. 

Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Ethics and Regulatory Aspects of Pragmatic Clinical Trials

The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Ethics and Regulatory Aspects of Pragmatic Clinical Trials. This position includes pursuing independent research, working alongside faculty members involved with the ethics and regulatory aspects of large-scale pragmatic clinical trials and participating in the Hecht-Levi Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioethics.

The postdoctoral fellow is expected to pursue one or more projects addressing the ethics and regulatory aspects of pragmatic clinical trials in collaboration with Berman Institute faculty members. The Fellow will actively engage with the Ethics and Regulatory Cores of the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory and the Pragmatic and Implementation Studies for the Management of Pain to Reduce Opioid Prescribing (PRISM) Resource Coordinating Center.

As a member of the Hecht-Levi cohort of Bioethics Postdoctoral Fellows at the Berman Institute, the Fellow will have access to Berman Institute faculty and resources, including weekly seminars, presentations, discussions with leading academics and policy makers, professional development training, outreach efforts, and teaching opportunities commensurate with experience and background.

See full information below. To apply: The application window will open on October 17, 2021. Applications are due by Friday, December 19, 2021 and must be uploaded via Interfolio. 

Full Information on the Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Ethics and Regulatory Aspects of Pragmatic Clinical Trials

Qualifications

Applications are welcome from candidates who will have an MD, PhD, or JD or their equivalent by the start date of the fellowship. Applicants should not have completed their terminal degree more than three years before the start date of the appointment.  Physicians should not have completed a formal residency training program more than three years before the start date of the appointment.

Start date

September 1, 2022.

Terms of Appointment

The fellowship is guaranteed for one year with the expectation of a second year of funding, contingent on review. Applicants may not be employed by another institution and are expected to be in residence for the duration of the appointment.

Salary is $62,500 per year, plus health and other benefits; and there is a modest discretionary fund for travel to relevant conferences and research expenses.

How to apply

Applications must be uploaded by December 17, 2021 via Interfolio: http://apply.interfolio.com/94575

Complete applications require the following materials:

  • A short covering letter
  • A current CV
  • Copy of graduate transcript(s)
  • Three letters of reference
  • A representative manuscript or publication
  • An essay (not to exceed 1500 words) detailing (i) the applicant’s relevant research and scholarly background; (ii) proposed primary area of inquiry during the fellowship; (iii) and what the applicant would hope to gain from being part of the Berman Institute.

Johns Hopkins is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body.  The University is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, and encourages applications from these and other protected group members.  Consistent with the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will assess the comprehensive qualifications of each applicant.

For general information about the nature of Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Berman Institute please contact the Director of Education Initiatives, Professor Gail Geller (ggeller@jhu.edu). For questions specific to the Fellowship in the Ethics and Regulatory Aspects of Pragmatic Clinical Trials, please contact Dr. Jeremy Sugarman (jsugarman@jhu.edu).

Joint Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ethics and Infectious Disease

The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities at the University of Oxford have established a Collaborative Bioethics Research and Training Program with support from the Wellcome Trust.  Through this partnership, we have created joint post-doctoral training opportunities.  We are pleased to invite applications from uniquely qualified individuals who are committed to interdisciplinary and transnational collaboration and who have a particular interest in the ethical issues at the intersection of global health and infectious disease.  This two-year fellowship will begin in September 2022.

See full information below. To apply: The application window will open on October 17, 2021. Applications are due by Friday, December 19, 2021 and must be uploaded via Interfolio. 

Full Information on the Joint Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ethics and Infectious Disease

Qualifications, Responsibilities and Opportunities:

  • Doctoral-level degree in bioethics, philosophy, public health, law, medicine, social science, history or other relevant discipline, with fewer than five years of post-PhD research by the start date.
  • Scholarly interests in ethical issues at the intersection of global health and infectious disease.
  • Primary, in-residence appointment at Johns Hopkins and a residency requirement at the Wellcome Center. The exact nature, duration and timing of the Oxford residency is flexible and case-specific.
  • Fellows will become integrated members of the ongoing post-doctoral training programs at both Institutions and have access to a wide range of activities and opportunities, including:
    • Regular seminars, presentations and discussions with leaders in the field;
    • Individualized research program;
    • Bioethics coursework and mentorship;
    • Professional development training;
    • Teaching opportunities (commensurate with experience and background);
    • Participation in outreach efforts via social media

Salary/Benefits:

  • $62,500 per year, plus health benefits
  • Travel for the residency requirement and modest living expenses when overseas
  • A modest discretionary fund for travel to relevant conferences

To apply: The application window is now open. Applications are due on Friday, December 17, 2021 and must be uploaded via Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/97826).

  • Cover Letter
  • Personal statement in support of your application
  • CV
  • Copy of Graduate Transcript(s)
  • Writing Sample
  • Three Letters of Reference

For more information on the Berman-Oxford Joint Post-doctoral Fellowship Program, please contact the Berman Institute’s Director of Education Initiatives (Gail Geller, ScD, MHS at ggeller@jhu.edu) or Associate Director for Global Programs (Joseph Ali, JD at jali@jhu.edu).