Postdoctoral Fellow in Social and Psychological Wellbeing and Aging at the University of Pennsylvania
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an NIH-funded research program focused on improving outcomes for persons living with dementia and their care partners. The fellow will contribute to the development and validation of the Social and Psychological Outcomes Tally (SPOT), a novel patient-centered measure of social and psychological quality of life designed for individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia and their caregivers. This multidisciplinary project integrates psychometrics, behavioral science, health services research, qualitative methods, and dementia care to create tools that can guide clinical decision-making and care planning. The postdoc will work closely with Shana Stites at the University of Pennsylvania and other collaborating partners, engaging in the project from participant recruitment through data collection and analysis, gaining foundational and advanced research skills alongside exceptional opportunities for long-term career building in dementia research.
Responsibilities
- Assist with study recruitment and data collection
- Support analyses of cross-sectional and longitudinal data
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary national and international research teams and with community stakeholders
- Disseminate research findings at scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings
- Draft manuscripts for scientific publication
- Provide technical and written assistance on grants for NIH and other external funding
Qualifications
- Ph.D. or equivalent in psychology, epidemiology, economics, demography, sociology, and/or related fields
- Interest in Alzheimer’s disease, aging, mixed methods, and/or aging
- Skills in quantitative data and statistical analysis; qualitative analysis skills a strength
- Excellent English verbal and written skills
- Excellent reasoning skills
- Strong organizational skills and ability to establish priorities to meet deadlines
- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary setting with a multidisciplinary research team
Location: University of Pennsylvania – Perelman School of Medicine. Open date: Oct 19, 2026.