Postdoctoral Fellow

Department:
SOM KC The Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADC)

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Perales Research
Position Title:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Job Family Group:
Professional Staff
Job Description Summary:
The University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (KU ADRC) is a National Institute of Aging P30-designated national leader in AD research with the vision to impact the lives of every patient and family dealing with Alzheimer’s in the region and across the state of Kansas through our research, education, and clinical care. We are a comprehensive center at the forefront of clinical trials, lifestyle intervention trials, drug and translational research, and basic science research. Our research enables us to also provide leading edge clinical care and support for dementia caregivers. We have a growing cadre of researchers that focus on minority health and health disparities, who have a national impact. In addition, we provide a wide variety of both public education and training opportunities for the workforce of tomorrow.
A position is available for a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow in the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (KU ADRC) at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Candidates will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Jaime Perales-Puchalt and other faculty at the KU ADRC. The fellow will be extensively involved in dementia care trials as well as outreach, education, and the science of recruitment of underrepresented communities, especially Latinos. The position will focus on acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of caregiver and care recipient survey data with respect to sociodemographics, health and psychosocial variables. It will also require fellows to interact extensively with a diverse group of academic and community partners.
Training will be provided through the KU ADRC’s Brain Health Training Program (BHTP). BHTP training is specifically designed to provide multidisciplinary, advanced training to brain aging and dementia researchers, and prepare trainees for positions in academia, government, and industry. Through the BHTP program, the fellow will have access to an integrated and comprehensive research training environment for the study of dementia care health disparities and minority health. The BHTP pipeline provides opportunities for the fellow to develop mentoring skills, collaborative science networks and advanced research skills including manuscript and grant writing. Coursework, workshops, seminars, formal and informal networking from a variety of sources are also accessed through KU ADRC links.
Postdoctoral scholars at KUMC are individuals who have received their terminal degree and who have opted to pursue further training in a postdoctoral appointment. Postdoctoral fellowship is a time-limited appointment, the primary purpose of which is to provide research and/or scholarly training for an academic or research career. A postdoctoral scholar at KUMC is expected to:
• Participate in a full-time regimen of advanced training and research.
• Train under the supervision of a faculty research mentor(s) who will provide the opportunity for collaborative and independent research, as well as promote publication of findings and preparation of research grants as determined by a mutual agreement between the postdoctoral scholar and the mentor.
• Participate in relevant academic activities related to the preparation for a career in research or academia.
• As part of one’s own development, regularly participate in professional development activities outside of the lab.
• Participate in the KUMC Postdoctoral Individual Development Plan process.
• Contribute to teaching and training activities as appropriate for goals, skill level, and research expectations.
• Contribute towards the success of the center and the health of the region.
Job Description:

Required Qualifications

Education:  PhD or another terminal doctorate (such as DPH, PsyD, DNP, MD, etc.)

Work Experience:

• Experience collecting and analyzing psychosocial data.

• Experience writing scientific publications or in press scientific papers as first author.

• Experience conducting research.

• Experience giving presentations to diverse audiences.

• Experience writing grant applications.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Successful completion of coursework in psychology, public health, social work, or other behavioral health interventions.

• Course work in statistics and statistical software.

Work Experience:

• Experience conducting and/or analyzing qualitative interviews or focus groups.

• Experience translating materials into Spanish.

• Past research in Latino health.

• Undergraduate or graduate level participation in clinical trial conduct.

• Past research in dementia or aging evaluation, care, or research.

• Community based research experience building and managing research partnerships.

• Experience communicating information to external, non-academic partner organizations both orally and in writing.

• Experience conducting bivariate and multivariate quantitative data analyses.

Skills:

• Bilingual English/Spanish.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills.

• Multitasking skills.

• Problem solving skills.

Job Duties:

• Analyze and disseminate findings from caregiver and Latino health research at the KU ADRC, including but not limited to analysis of data with statistical and qualitative research software, and developing and submitting manuscripts for publication.

• Participate in grant development and submission, including training grants and research grants to be conducted by both the fellow and others.

• Design, plan, submit for approval, and conduct studies that further our understanding of health disparities and dementia care.

• Analyze psychosocial data including data collection, cleansing, management,  processing, reviewing, interpreting, and reporting data and developing protocols.

• Participate in coordination of ongoing and new study trials, including but not limited to contacting, scheduling, consenting, and testing.

• Conduct research visits, including neuroimaging measures, including interacting with participants, consenting, instructing, attending visits at off-business hours, coaching, and managing data.

• Seek and build community relationships that increase engagement and participation of Latinos and other ethnically, racially, and geographically underserved individuals in clinical research.

• Manage and interpret research engagement metrics; obtain and organize outreach and recruitment data regarding number of research referrals and number of participants referred for studies.

• Exhibit attention to detail, multitasking, ability to work within a team, and maintaining a professional demeanor towards research volunteers.

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Required Documents

• Resume

• Cover Letter

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan. Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available. Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus nine paid holidays. One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment. A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available. https://www.kumc.edu/human-resources/benefits.html

Employee Type:
Regular
Time Type:
Full time
Rate Type:
Salary

Compensation Statement:

The pay range listed for this position is determined by our compensation program using market data and salary benchmarking. A combination of factors is considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, education, experience and training, qualifications relative to the requirements of the position, and funding. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, a reasonable estimate for the starting pay range will be the minimum to midpoint of the posted range, taking into account the combination of factors listed above. 

Pay Range:
$47,476.00 - $80,000.00

Minimum

$47,476.00

Midpoint

$66,000.00

Maximum

$80,000.00