Postdoctoral Fellow - Center for Goal Concordant Care Research

About the role

The Center for Goal Concordant Care Research offers comprehensive resources to investigators dedicated to enhancing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer by gaining a deeper understanding of their needs, goals, and preferences. The Center is a first-of-its-kind effort to bring together scientific expertise in communication and decision-making science, educational research, implementation science, personalization science, and supportive care to accelerate discoveries that will improve the quality of care of advanced cancer patients. This innovative initiative fosters collaboration across diverse fields to advance patient-centered outcomes.

Responsibilities

Postdoctoral fellows would participate in studies focused on pinpointing where in the goal concordant care trajectory interventions are most needed and effective. They would also develop and test innovative strategies to enhance patient-provider communication, optimize shared decision-making, and ensure care aligns with patients' values and preferences throughout their cancer journey.

Eligibility requirements

• Qualified candidates should have a Doctorate Degree in public health, psychology, sociology, epidemiology, bioinformatics or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required as demonstrated by publications and scholarly work in a related field of study.
• Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:
• Experience in communication and decision-making science, educational research, implementation science, personalization science, and/or supportive care.
• Experience in intervention development and testing (e.g., clinical trials).
• Experience in quantitative methodology (e.g. surveys) and/or data analysis (e.g. STATA, SAS, R, or SPSS).
• Experience in qualitative methodology and/or mixed methods.

Learning Objectives

• Engage in hands-on multi-disciplinary research in one or more facets of the field of communication and decision-making science, educational research, implementation science, personalization science, and supportive care to accelerate discoveries that will improve the quality of care of patients with advanced cancer.
• Work with their unique cross-disciplinary faculty mentors to establish and follow a personalized training plan. Trainees will also receive mentorship in the fields of technical writing, data management, bioinformatics, protocol and regulatory management, and pre/post award management.
• Receive mentoring and training toward becoming independent scientists with successful early career awards and multiple first-authored publications.

Additional Application Information

In addition to submitting the application, please email the following materials in order, in one PDF document to Maribel Mosqueda at mgespitia@mdanderson.org:

• CV/Resume: A current and comprehensive record of your educational background, research experience, and professional accomplishments
• Statement of Interest (no more than 2 pages) including:
• A description of your research background and experience
• Your specific interest in this position
• Relevant research, data analysis, or technical skills and experience
• Publishations or manuscripts in preparation not yet listed in your Slate application, if applicable
• Your career goals and how this fellowship supports them
• Names and email addresses of three professional references who can speak to your research capabilities and potential (note: two of these references will also be asked to submit formal Letters of Recommendation through the Slate system)

Position Information

• Offsite work arrangements are subject to approval and may be modified or revoked at any time based on business needs, performance considerations, or regulatory requirements.
• This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.