We currently do not have positions available for Post-Doc students, but check back soon as we may have positions available in the near future!

Biostatistician I
The Institute of Addiction Science (IAS), the Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (TCORS), and the Real-World Evaluation in Behavioral Epidemiology Laboratory (REBEL) are seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented Biostatistician I to join our multidisciplinary research team. This full-time position will play a central role in leading statistical and geospatial analyses for an NIH K01-funded study examining how the tobacco and cannabis retail environment and neighborhood disadvantage influence adolescent nicotine and cannabis vaping initiation and progression.

The Biostatistician I will work closely with the Principal Investigator while collaborating with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research staff across multiple ongoing cohort studies focused on adolescent and young adult behavioral health. This role offers opportunities to contribute to high-impact research, peer-reviewed publications, and future grant development. Click here for more information and to submit your application.

Undergraduate research assistantships are available to students. Assistantships are available as part of an HP 290 or 490 Directed Research Course or can be done on a volunteer basis. Qualified students from other programs within USC (e.g., psychology, neuroscience) and at other institutions, including recent graduates, are also welcome to apply. Research assistants work on field studies examining the role of emotional factors that influence tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, as well as other behaviors that impact health (e.g. exercise and diet).

Undergraduate assistantships are a great way to gain initial exposure to innovative, collaborative research in preparation for medical school and graduate school in psychology, neuroscience and public health. REBEL alumni have gone on to graduate school at some of the leading institutions and programs in the nation, including: UCLA, NYU, USC, UCSF, Harvard, Dartmouth, University of Arizona, University of California Davis, New York Medical College, University of Washington, Virginia Commonwealth University, Tulane University, and University of Hawaii, among others.

We prioritize assistantships to students who are interested in committing two consecutive semesters of volunteering and 8-10 hours of volunteering per week.

At REBEL, research assistants have the opportunity to specialize in Population Studies or Statistics & Data Management. Please see below for a background and description of responsibilities for each area.

POPULATION STUDIES

Student Research Assistants will have the opportunity to work in a team environment to support REBEL’s longitudinal prospective cohort studies. Our cohort studies provide current and leading information on health behavior, mental health, and addiction among teens and young adults.

Responsibilities include:

•Conduct follow-up and reminder calls to participants and parents

•Assist with participant recruitment and retention

•Track survey completion rates and engage in quality control measures

•Create and manage study materials

•Identify survey measures

•Build and test surveys in REDCap (web-based data collection tool)

•Support school-based data collection with adolescents

•Analyze data and develop reports of key findings to provide to schools

•Review literature on emerging topics in nicotine and tobacco research

STATISTICS & DATA MANAGEMENT

Student Research Assistants will gain experience with statistical programming languages, data management, and data analysis.

Responsibilities include:

• Data wrangling: transforming raw data to appropriate data formats for analysis

• Statistical computing: analyzing data and communicating results to researchers

• Collaborate with other members and teams of REBEL

Please click here to begin our application for the REBEL Research Assistantship.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact USCREBELresearch@gmail.com

Undergraduate Fellowships in Addiction Science

Advanced undergraduate research assistants who have been successfully working in the lab for an extended period are eligible to be selected for a USC-REBEL Undergraduate Fellowship in Addiction Science (UFAS). UFAS fellows are awarded a $6000 stipend and funding to cover travel to attend a national conference in addiction science. Fellows also have the opportunity to work as a senior member of REBEL’s team and develop an independent research project under the guidance of Dr. Barrington-Trimis and Dr. Harlow.

PhD in Health Behavior Research

The PhD program in Health Behavior Research is suited for students interested in working in the fields of disease prevention research and health promotion. Students enrolled in this program receive educational and research training in topics of health promotion and disease prevention, as well as training in related fields including psychology, communications, biostatistics, preventive medicine, public health and epidemiology. Through this program, students become prepared to participate in research in preventive medicine, health psychology, health policy, public health, and population health science. Training for this PhD program is provided through various methods, including course lectures, seminars, discussions student and faculty-lead presentations, and field research. Students additionally attain research opportunities through participation in faculty projects, commonly through the USC Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR).

For more information regarding this program, please click the link here.

REBEL Research is not accepting new students for Fall 2025 admission.

Master of Addiction Science

The Master of Addiction Science (MAS) is suited for students interested in transdisciplinary and inter-professional methods to addiction study. Multi-disciplinary courses provided to students allow them to attain a deeper perspective regarding addiction from various aspects of science and policy. Through the rich interactions students have with instructors and peers from various professions and disciplines, students will attain greater understandings and skillsets that examines addiction in the “cell to society perspective.” These types of experiences prepares MAS graduates to apply their understandings and skills to their professions and strengthen interdiscilinary and interprofessional partnership.

For more information regarding this program, please click the link here.