Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Job Category
Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Department
Norman Laboratory CART | Department of Family Practice | Faculty of Medicine (Wendy Norman)

Posting End Date
June 17, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date
Aug 31, 2027

This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate.

Note: The expected salary is $71,000 per annum at 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week). This appointment will be a three (3) year appointment. The expected start date is September 1, 2024 with a potential to begin earlier.

JOB SUMMARY

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow works within the Contraception and Abortion Research Team (CART) in the UBC Department of Family Practice, with research labs located at BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre. The CART team is a national, interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral pan-Canadian research network of researchers, clinicians, trainees, decision makers, and community advocates. CART is committed to conduct impactful research that improves equitable access to abortion and contraception care. The successful PDF will work under the supervision of Professor Wendy V. Norman on the CART How Far is Too Far (HFITF) Project, a large, international CIHR grant funded project coordinating multi-site activities and a range of partner organizations.

This position is an on-site position primarily based and located within the CART research lab within the Women’s Health Research Institute within BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre.

*For all applications, please include the following documents:

• Cover letter outlining specific examples of experience and research interests

• Curriculum Vitae

• Reference letters or contact information for three references

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The incumbent will report directly to Professor Wendy V. Norman, the lead Investigator on the CART HFITF Project and co-lead of CART, in the Department of Family Practice. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will support the research project within the CART team. There will be a research focus on the following  HFITF project with grant funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR): How far is too far (HFITF)? Creating an evidence base to support safe provision of medication abortion for people living far from emergency services.” The Investigator is Dr. Wendy Norman (Professor, Department of Family Practice, UBC) and the co-Principal Investigators are Dr. Bonnie Henry (MD, MPH, Clinical Professor, UBC); Dr. Sarah Munro (PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Washington); and Dr. Laura Schummers (ScD, Assistant Professor, UBC).

Abortion access in Canada is inequitably distributed with wide urban-rural disparities. Introduction of the medication abortion pill (2017) promised to address this disparity, offering safe, effective service closer to home. But current guidelines limit this service to patients living near emergency services, which may not be necessary. In this study, the research addresses a critical gap in abortion evidence worldwide: How far from emergency services can first trimester medication abortion be safely provided?

This project aims to determine incidence, urgency, and risk factors for post-MA hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, including the proportion of transfusions that are emergent or life-saving. The study employs mixed methods including chart data, health administrative data and interviews among those living in or caring for people who live in rural areas. This successful PDF will lead on the case control study of chart data, triangulation of data from all sources, and the knowledge translation activities. The case control study will engage facilities across Canada and the PDF will coordinate the analysis to include similar data collected in Scotland, Australia and Sweden.

WORK PERFORMED

The primary activities of the Postdoc Research Fellow will be to:

• Establish connections and coordinate retrieval of case control chart data from facilities across Canada.

• Coordinate chart data collection and analysis across all countries (Canada, Scotland, Sweden, and Australia).

• Collaborate through excellent communication skills with colleagues and mentors about all aspects of the projects (design, interpretation, challenges, solutions, timelines and progress)

• Apply expert knowledge to lead or coordinate data management, data cleaning and analysis, triangulation of data from all project components, interpretation, manuscript and report writing, and dissemination of research findings.

• Publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals in a timely fashion, and coordinate appropriate knowledge translation activities.

• Participating in other research and/or teaching activities that the PI and PDF identify together and contributing to broader research endeavors at CART

• Preparing further grants and fellowship applications, working under the direction of the Principal Investigator

• Be curious and engaged with the project and the work at CART, willing to learn and grow.

• Other duties as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Postdoc Research Fellow will receive day-to-day supervision and support from Professor Wendy V. Norman, Co-Director of CART. In addition, advice and support on data collection and analysis will be provided by co- Principal Investigators Dr. Bonnie Henry, Dr. Sarah Munro and Dr. Laura Schummers.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will support Professor Norman and other Faculty to supervise graduate students, other trainees, and temporary members working within the project.  

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR/JUDGEMENT

The Contraception and Abortion Research Team engages an interdisciplinary research network of faculty, researchers, and trainees from major universities in Canada and internationally, as well as stakeholders and policy makers from provincial and federal level governments, and professional organizations across the country. Errors made, or inappropriate judgement exercised, may result in the loss of collaborative relationships and partnerships, compromising the quality of the research findings, overall project deadlines not being met, budget overages, and damage to the reputation of the team and the credibility of the investigators.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a PhD degree in an appropriate field that has emphasized quantitative analysis skills (epidemiology, public or population health, statistics) with strong statistical methods expertise.

• Excellent research skills, including a strong understanding of quantitative research methods, ideally including experience working with clinical chart data;

• Experience in a range of knowledge translation activities, not limited to journal publication (e.g., presentations, interpretation of research results for public and decision maker audiences).

• Clear understanding of the academic research process acquired through practical and/or academic experience;

• Experience in organizing, coordinating, and managing research projects and/or grant-based research programs;

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with excellent problem solving and communication skills;

• Strong writing skills, experience with publishing professional journal articles preferred.