Postdoc Researcher – Nutrition, Climate & Digital Health – Center for Innovations in Health Sciences (IHS)

The VinUniversity Center for Innovations in Health Sciences (IHS) is committed to advancing innovative solutions that promote health, wellness, and disease prevention; enhance early detection; and deliver accessible precision medicine for prevalent health challenges in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and beyond. IHS aims to be a leading authority on healthcare access and the social determinants of health that influence health outcomes in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with the goal of developing policies, practices, and interventions that improve health and wellbeing for all. 

Project Description 

IHS is seeking one Postdoctoral Researcher to join an interdisciplinary research program spanning nutrition, environmental sustainability, maternal and child health, and digital health innovation. 

The successful candidate will contribute to two complementary funded projects, along with additional projects involving secondary data analysis. 

Project 1 – Climate, Health Systems & Infant Feeding 

Quantifying Global Environmental Impacts of Cesarean Sections Mediated by Infant Feeding Practices 
This project examines how nonmedically indicated cesarean sections affect breastfeeding practices and commercial milk formula use, and quantifies their associated carbon and water footprints using global and national prediction models. 

Project 2 – Digital Nutrition & Sustainable Food Systems 

Bữa Ăn Thông Minh (Smart Meal): Development and Validation of an AIPowered Tool for Nutritional and Environmental Assessment in Vietnamese Communal Kitchens 
This project develops and validates an AIenabled web/mobile application for assessing dishlevel nutritional quality, environmental footprints, and food processing levels in communal eating settings (e.g., schools, hospitals, and workplaces). 

Together, these projects address the climate–nutrition–health nexus, combining epidemiology, dietary assessment, predictive modeling, and digital innovation. 

Key Roles and Responsibilities 

The Postdoctoral Researcher will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and an interdisciplinary team across health sciences, nutrition, and engineering. Responsibilities include: 

Research Design, Implementation, & Coordination 

• Contribute to the design and execution of quantitative, qualitative, and mixedmethods studies 
• Lead or support systematic reviews and metaanalyses 
• Support validation studies linking dietary intake, food preparation data, and digital app outputs 
• Ensure compliance with ethical approvals, data governance, and research protocols 

Scientific Writing & Dissemination 

• Lead and coauthor manuscripts for submission to highimpact international journals 
• Prepare policy briefs, technical reports, and stakeholder materials 
• Present findings at national and international conferences 

Grant Development & Research Expansion 

• Contribute to national and international grant proposals 
• Support study design, literature reviews, and methodology development for followon projects 
• Assist in expanding the research portfolio at the intersection of nutrition, climate change, and digital health 

Capacity Building & Collaboration 

• Supervise and mentor research assistants and students 
• Collaborate with academic, government, and institutional partners (e.g., Ministry of Health, National Institute of Nutrition) 
• Participate actively in interdisciplinary research activities within IHS and VinUniversity 

Minimum Expected Deliveries 

• Two - three 1st author or co-author publications in Q1 journals each year 
• Participation in one external grant application 

Required Qualifications 

• PhD in Public Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, Agriculture, One Health, or a closely related discipline 
• Strong training in literature reviews and quantitative and/or mixedmethods research 
• Demonstrated experience with populationbased data and/or dietary assessment 
• Track record of peerreviewed publications in international journals 
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills in English 
• Ability to work independently and effectively in interdisciplinary teams 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Obtained PhD degree within five years 
• Experience in one or more of the following areas:  
• Maternal and child health 
• Nutrition and dietary assessment 
• Climate change, environmental sustainability, or lifecycle assessment 
• Digital health, AIenabled tools, or datadriven interventions 
• Experience with statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, SPSS) and/or literature review platforms (e.g., Covidence) 
• Experience with multicountry or policyrelevant research 
• Interest in translational research and realworld policy impact 

Professional and Personal Attributes 

• Strong organizational and projectmanagement skills 
• Initiative, intellectual curiosity, and leadership potential 
• Commitment to research with public health, sustainability, and policy relevance 
• Interest in pursuing a longterm academic or global health research career 

Appointment Details 

• Salary: Competitive; commensurate with qualifications and experience 
• Contract: Annual contract, renewable based on performance and funding availability 
• Contract duration: Up to 24 months (renewable annually based on performance and funding) 
• Work location: VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam 

Principal Investigator 

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan 
Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences 
VinUniversity, Vietnam 

Webpage: Nguyen Thanh Tuan - VinUni

‪Tuan T Nguyen‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬

Dr. Tuan Nguyen is a dedicated medical epidemiologist with nearly 30 years of experience in international health, making a significant impact on global communities. His research encompasses maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, health disparities, nutrition policy, health system strengthening, food systems, health economics, and climate change. With advanced training from renowned institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, and Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Nguyen has provided technical support and conducted studies in 35 countries. He has co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, along with numerous guidelines, reports, and newspaper articles. He has also served as an editor and referee for esteemed journals and adjunct faculty member at prestigious universities, including the University of Southern California. Dr. Nguyen has contributed to the development of innovative global digital tools, including the Mothers’ Milk Tool, the Green Feeding Tool, and the Human Milk Bank Costing Tool. Earlier, he served as a technical advisor at FHI 360, research faculty at VinUniversity, and lecturer at Hanoi Medical University. 

How to Apply 

Interested candidates are invited to submit: 

1. A cover letter describing research experience and motivation 
2. A curriculum vitae (CV) 
3. Contact information for at least two academic referees