Postdoctoral Research Scholar Jobs

Position Overview

Organization: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Title: Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Position Details

Position Description

The Division of Gynecologic Oncology has a unique opportunity to work in the Research Lab of Dr. Kemi Doll, where our primary objective is investigating and ameliorating racial disparities in gynecologic oncology. We have an opportunity for a full time Postdoctoral Research Associate (Postdoctoral Scholar) position open with Dr. Doll’s team and the Gynecologic Research and Cancer Equity (GRACE) Center. This position has an anticipated start date of June 2023. This position is on an annual, 12-month appointment and is non-tenure eligible. The monthly base salary range is $5,459 - $5,568.

The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology’s research program has continued to grow over the last seven years and this position is vital to the success and growth of the department. The research program plays a critical role in offering innovative and life-saving care. The Department of Ob/Gyn is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community (see https://obgyn.uw.edu/diversity/diversity). We encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds or interests align with this commitment. Women, transgender and non-binary individuals, and individuals from under-represented backgrounds in medicine and public health are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be supervised by Dr. Kemi Doll, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Scholar should have a doctoral degree in Health Services Research, Health Behavior, or a related qualitative field. The Scholar will join an interinstitutional team that is using cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate and intervene on inequity in the spectrum of gynecologic health, including both benign and cancer conditions. The ideal candidate will have training in execution, analysis, and reporting of qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups) and digital health communication, as well as demonstrated interest in social determinants of racial inequalities in health and community engagement.

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you will be a vital member of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team that includes biostatisticians, epidemiologists, data analysts, qualitative scientists, as well as grant administrators and project managers. The GRACE Center has multiple active projects that broadly address endometrial cancer inequities that affect Black women and gender expansive individuals and focus on intervention development, from pre-diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. Our active projects include EHR-based healthcare delivery analyses, interview and focus group work on health behavior, survey-based investigations on the science of engagement and patient-reported outcomes, and a national randomized trial to test community-based interventions for cancer treatment completion. We closely collaborate with social epidemiology colleagues at the University of North Carolina Departments of Health Policy and Management and Duke University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, along with colleagues in our own Schools of Public Health and Medicine. We also provide consultation services to the University of Washington Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) Community Engagement Core and outside institution research groups.

The Associate will have the opportunity to support and lead qualitative and mixed-methods manuscripts from two primary projects re-evaluating the role of transvaginal ultrasound in the diagnostic care pathway for endometrial cancer: GUIDE-EC and GUIDES BY US. These projects are grounded in the Public Health Critical Race praxis and leverage our dataset of 3000+ cohort of Black individuals who underwent hysterectomy with and without endometrial cancer. The Associate will lead the qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups) and analysis for these projects and co-develop and test a science communication toolkit for direct community benefit.

This position is a combination of self-directed research as well as collaboration with existing team research projects. The Scholar’s day-to-day work will include literature reviews, interview guide development, facilitation of in-person and virtual interviews and focus groups (at times requiring travel), qualitative coding and analysis, manuscript writing and some supervision of trainees. As part of the larger research Center, the Associate will have the opportunity to mentor trainees, including medical residents, MPH students, and predoctoral students. The Scholar will also have the opportunity to collaborate on grant proposal development.

In addition, to further the Associate’s own professional development, approximately 20% of time can be spent on the Postdoctoral Research Associate’s own research and the remaining 80% will be comprised of research supporting the PIs gynecologic research portfolio. The position offers other support for professional development, including travel to professional meetings per year with encouragement to present their work, pursuing relevant skill development and education that supports their career, and bi-weekly one on one mentoring with the PI to identify and strategize scholar’s career interests. The position is renewable after the first year.

Ideal Candidate: The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to work independently, proactively communicate with other team members and collaborators, and take initiative to develop or support research projects. The ideal candidate will thrive in an interdisciplinary environment at the interface between the qualitative science, quantitative data, and community engagement. In addition, the ideal candidate should have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Initiative to independently spearhead new papers and projects to aid in team growth
• Strong writing skills
• Independent time management skills, including ability to prioritize workload
• Desire to work collaboratively amongst team members, including providing leadership to students and other research staff
• Strong problem-solving skills

Qualifications

Min Degree Requirements: Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g. Sc.D., M.D.).

Required Skills and Experience:

• Some track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Well-developed research skills including ability to execute searches using relevant search terms and algorithms and synthesize data from multiple sources
• Excellent data management skills, including strong proficiency with reference management systems
• Demonstrated interest in women’s health and healthcare or social determinants of racial inequalities in health
• Doctoral-level skills and proficiency in design, execution, and analysis of qualitative data

Desirable Skills and Experience (Optional):

• Website or social media communication
• Experience with mixed-methods research and publication
• Graphic design
• Experience with any of the following: leading quantitative analyses, community organizing, research project management
• Previous work in clinical settings
• Strong oral presentation skills
• Grant-writing experience

Instructions

Please upload the following in Interfolio:

a) CV

b) 1-2 page cover Letter, including the following: 1) current career stage (including expected graduation date if still in a PhD program), 2) ideal start date, 3) why you are a good fit for the position, 4) what skills and experience you have that are most salient for the position, and OPTIONAL 5) research interests related to gynecologic / gynecologic oncology. If applicable, please describe any interests or previous work in health care disparities and equity around issues of gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic position, geography, or other markers of stratification.

c) List of Professional References (3), including with their titles, institutional affiliations, and how best to contact them (e.g., phone number, e-mail address)

d) OPTIONAL: Writing/Research Sample (preferably a peer-reviewed published manuscript)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Benefits Information

A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

Privacy Notice

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Disability Services

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected].

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information

Under University of Washington (UW) Policy, University-compensated personnel must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.