Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program (Colorado)

Denver/Aurora, Colorado (Non-Accredited)

The Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program is currently accepting applications. Candidates are encouraged to apply and additional applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

Fellow may focus their research and career development in these core areas:

• Public Health Suicide Prevention
• Epidemiology/Biostatistics
• Health Services Research
• Special topic that aligns with mentor’s lab (e.g., Traumatic Brain Injury)

We are seeking applicants for a two-year, non-clinical, postdoctoral position that combines individualized, mentored research, and training of data scientists and researchers in the high priority area of Veteran suicide risk and prevention. Big Data Fellows will learn to manage, design, and analyze large-scale, multiple element biological and/or non-biological patient data sets that contribute to suicide prevention research.

The training faculty below are currently accepting applications for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program.

Drs. Daniel Reis and Adam Kinney are accepting Postdoctoral Fellow applications for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program. Their overlapping research areas include investigating temporal patterns of suicide risk, with a specific interest in sleep and circadian risk factors. The Fellow would have the opportunity to contribute to several ongoing projects, including: 1) a large-scale analysis of electronic medical record data to develop latent suicide risk profiles and evaluate longitudinal changes in profile states; 2) increasing implementation of bright light therapy for major depressive disorder in VA primary care settings; 3) developing a novel digital intervention for sleep and circadian health guided by wearable sensor data and digital sleep health phenotypes; and, 4) leveraging VA medical record data to examine predictors and outcomes of guideline-concordant care for insomnia disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, the Fellow will have the opportunity to lead guided research projects and contribute to publications.

Dr. Joe Simonetti is accepting Postdoctoral Fellow applications for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s Advanced Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention: Big Data Science Program. Fellows working with Dr. Joe Simonetti would have the opportunity to work on several projects. Dr. Simonetti is an addiction medicine physician whose research efforts focus on firearm suicide prevention among Veterans. He uses a variety of methodologies to pursue this work, including large data analyses, informatics and natural language processing approaches, clinical trial development and evaluation, survey development, and qualitative analyses. He is also conducting research to better understand the care provided to patients who use non-prescribed fentanyl, an opioid associated with increased unintentional overdose and suicide risk.

To learn more about our training faculty please visit the Research Staff page.

Location: Denver, Colorado

For a more comprehensive look at our program please view our 2025 Big Data Fellowship Brochure. [opens in new tab/window]

Start date: To be determined - negotiated with qualified applicants.

Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to apply and additional applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants to the Postdoctoral Fellowship must hold a doctorate degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in epidemiology, health services research, public health science, or a closely related field.
• Each applicant must also be a U.S. citizen (per VA policy).
• The Fellowship program provides equal opportunities in training for all qualified persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, or other protected characteristics.

Application Materials

• A signed 2 page letter of interest describing current interests, professional accomplishments, and fit with selected faculty mentor and RM MIRECC’s mission
• A current Curriculum Vitae
• 2 letters of recommendation, with at least 1 being from someone familiar with applicant’s research work
• 3 references with contact information (can include the two letter writers)
• Writing sample (preferably published work)

Please send Application Materials or direct questions to:

Lauren M. Borges, Ph.D. Lauren.Borges2@va.gov

Dr. Lauren Borges
Director of Training
Clinical Research Psychologist
Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
303-916-0128
Lauren.Borges2@va.gov

Last Updated 15 October 2025