Postdoctoral Fellow - Alzheimer's and Dementia Research

Postdoctoral Fellow - Alzheimer's and Dementia Research

Requisition ID: 2022-5172
# of Openings: 1
Location: US-UT-Logan
Category: Research (non-Faculty)
Position Type: Benefited Full-Time
Job Classification: Exempt
College: E Eccles Jones Coll of Ed & Hum Svs
Department: Dean-EEJ Coll of Educ & Human Svs
Advertised Salary: Commensurate based on experience, plus excellent benefits

Overview
Utah State University (USU) has received funding to start an Alzheimer's and Dementia Research Center (ADRC) and is seeking an exceptional and motivated Postdoctoral Fellow (Postdoctoral Fellow II). The ADRC focuses on research, supportive services, and training a dementia competent workforce. It is housed within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. The center is Directed by Dr. Beth Fauth, a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.

Candidates for this two-year fellowship (with opportunities for renewal) should have existing research experience in Alzheimer's or related dementias; the position, however, is purposefully designed to be flexible. Research interests and expertise in mild cognitive impairment, family or formal care, and other related areas as well as basic research, prevention, and/or intervention foci are welcome. A key goal of this fellowship is to advance the fellow's own line of inquiry and to collaborate with faculty and doctoral students at USU and across the state. Thus, the ideal candidate would be interested in applying their own skills and interests to a diverse team of faculty in HDFS, Psychology, Kinesiology and Health Sciences, and related fields.

Interest in collaborating on secondary data also is a key area of focus for this position. For example, the Cache County Study on Memory in Aging (over 5,000 individuals) and the subset of those with dementia (over 900) have approximately 12 - 15 years of information on an array of dementia risk factors including genetic, health, nutritional, medication and psychosocial variables. Stored biological samples and linkage with the Utah Population Database (at the University of Utah), further expands available data (see work by Dr. JoAnn Tschanz, Psychology). Other data available through Dr. Yin Liu (HDFS) assess Daily Stress and Health for dementia family caregivers. Other national datasets (working with Dr. Liu) focus on health and well-being across adulthood and later life, such as the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC), and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

In sum, we seek to promote the fellow's existing line of inquiry and foster new collaborations. We will be supportive of the candidate building new skills with Dr. Fauth and faculty partners with the goal of conducting innovative research that supports the mission of the center.

The postdoctoral fellow will have access to a statistician as well as other grant and institutional supports from the Office of Research Services, a unit within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.

If you have questions about the position please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Elizabeth Fauth (435-797-1989; beth.fauth@usu.edu).


Responsibilities

• Leading and collaborating on manuscripts and research presentations focused on Alzheimer's and related dementias
• Grant writing, in collaboration with the ADRC Director and other faculty
• Assisting with data collection, where needed
• Working collaboratively with faculty and doctoral students to support the mission of the ADRC

Qualifications

• Earned PhD in social or health sciences (e.g., Psychology, Family Science, Human Development, Neuroscience, Public Health)
• Have a line of inquiry that can foster successful collaborations with existing faculty
• Demonstrate a strong record of publication in peer reviewed journals
• Be able to work independently
• Have advanced statistical skills, including expertise with longitudinal methods
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral English communication skills

Required Documents
Along with the online application, please attach:

1. A curriculum vita to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in Your Profile under "Resume/CV"
2. Two writing samples that are also reflective of your analytic or statistical aptitude to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in Your Profile under "Documents 1-10"
3. Contact information for three professional references to be provided at the beginning of your application in Your Profile
4. A cover letter that speaks to the minimum and preferred qualifications should be typed/pasted at the end of the application process. The system will provide a text box titled, "Cover Letter" in which the applicant will be directed to paste or type the document

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**


Advertised Salary
Commensurate based on experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.


University Highlights
The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is home to eight departments and is committed to providing the best learning opportunities and educational research in the state of Utah. Our programs are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. The college offers clinical services to the community across the human lifespan and provide students with real-world service and research opportunities.

Utah State University (USU) was founded in 1888 and is Utah’s land-grant and space-grant university. USU is one of only 146 research institutions in the U.S. classified as R1 “very high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. As one of the two premier research institutions in Utah, USU provides a high-quality education at an affordable price. With its main campus in Logan, the university serves approximately 27,500 students, including 24,255 undergraduates and 3,171 graduate students. USU Online has served students from all 50 states and 55 countries for 25 years.

USU’s statewide system features three residential campuses, 30 total campus locations, and 23 Extension education centers. The university employees 903 full-time faculty members, 124 executive administrators, and 1,649 full-time support staff. USU offers 115 undergraduate majors, as well as 91 master’s and 42 doctoral degrees. Learn more about USU.

A core characteristic of USU is engagement with communities and people in economic development, improvements to quality of life, and human capital. Through the practical application of knowledge, the University and its faculty engage and share expertise with the state, nation, and world, preserving the historical land-grant tradition of partnering with communities to address critical societal issues in the interest of the public good.

The USU main campus is located in beautiful Logan, Utah, a city of about 50,000 situated in a picturesque mountain valley about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. Outstanding recreational opportunities abound in the nearby mountains and proximate region.

USU is sensitive to the needs of dual career couples and provides a Dual Career Assistance program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment.

USU endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access in all aspects of employment to qualified persons with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Human Resource office at 435-797-0122 or submit a request at hr@usu.edu.



USU Land Acknowledgment

Please visit our website to learn about Utah State’s land acknowledgment of the eight tribes of Utah.

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Hilary Renshaw, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, 303-844-5695, OCR.Denver@ed.gov

*Updated 08/2022


To apply, visit https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/5172/postdoctoral-fellow---alzheimer%27s-and-dementia-research/job?in_iframe=1
jeid-96c7a29b727239479707779ac53c247f