Description

A postdoctoral research fellow position is open within the Community Access, Recruitment and Engagement (CARE) Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the Division of Neurology. This position is tied to a four-year ongoing NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program (DP1AG069873) for the Foundations of Representative Engagement, Valid & Effective Recruitment (FOREVER) in AD Research study. The overarching goal of this project is to develop robust mechanisms of efficacy in recruitment, engagement, and retention (RER) to clinical research. This project has a focus on participation and recruitment barriers disproportionately experienced by groups historically underrepresented in research, including racial and ethnic minoritized groups; LGBT/queer populations; rural residents; Native tribal communities; low-income neighborhoods; individuals with less than a high-school education, and particularly the intersections of these identities. MGH is seeking a motivated postdoctoral fellow for a minimum of two years to advance quantified measures of inclusion and access to dementia research, ensuring that marginalized populations pave the way toward an inclusive innovative future of science and medicine.

CARE's mission is to ensure that advances in medicine work for everyone. CARE is focused on creating a clear, testable science of research engagement, recruitment, and retention. This framework is based upon community-led partnerships as the foundation for health equity. We are committed to ensuring that these principles and practices are rooted in diverse and inclusive research design.

Additional details: The CARE Research Center values open communication, innovation, and collaboration. Individualized mentorship will be provided by CARE Executive Director, Dr. Jonathan Jackson, including focused attention on career development and growth. In addition to work within CARE, candidates will have the opportunity to interact with the larger MGH and Harvard Medical School (HMS) research communities. Other training for research fellows includes: Participation in regular lab meetings and journal clubs, opportunities to present work at scientific conferences/meetings including the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, up to four hours/week of protected time for community outreach, guidance for establishing independent grant funding, and preparation and submission of scientific manuscripts for publication. The position is fully funded for up to two years with the expectation that additional years would be supported by independent research support. Fellows may be considered for admission to the tenure track at HMS, depending on alignment of performance and career goals during the fellowship.

Benefits: This is a full-time position with an initial salary of $75,000 per year. The position is benefits-eligible through the MGPO, including medical and dental insurance plans, a prescription drug plan, a vision care plan, a pre-tax flexible spending account, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance plans, a tax-sheltered annuity program, long-term care coverage, and paid time off.

Requirements

Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in neuroscience or a related discipline, have a robust background in research including strong scientific writing and organizational skills, a robust publication record including first (or co-first) author of one or more peer-reviewed scientific publications, and a passion for and commitment to health equity. The ideal candidate would be interested in growing into a faculty position within CARE. Applicants should be highly motivated with an ability to work independently and collaboratively. A background in Alzheimer’s disease is preferred but not a requirement.