Postdoctoral Research Fellow- Dept. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Description of Project:

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is seeking applicants for a 2-year, intervention-oriented and rehabilitation research-focused postdoctoral fellowship. The project funding this fellowship, Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers’ Health-Traumatic Brain Injury (REACH-TBI), is a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized, telehealth intervention for caregivers of Veterans and Military Service Members with a history of TBI. The project is funded by the Department of Defense, TBI and Psychological Health Research Program. The position is affiliated with VCU’s School of Medicine and the Center for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering (CERSE). The fellow will implement and help evaluate the effectiveness of REACH-TBI in improving caregiver strain, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and health care frustration outcomes. The fellow will also develop their research portfolio and skills within the scope of advancing knowledge on Veterans and Service Members with TBI. VCU and CERSE provide a rich training environment including a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, didactic and hands-on research training, a broad, diverse local and national mentorship network, large national registries for secondary data analyses, statistical support, and individualized professional development opportunities.

Duties:

The postdoctoral fellow will serve as an interventionist for the clinical trial and be responsible for delivering REACH-TBI, a brief telehealth behavioral intervention for caregivers of Veterans or Military Service Members with TBI. The fellow will be a member of the research study team and prepare intervention materials, manage caregiver participants, write study-related manuscripts, and participate in regulatory/compliance documentation and reporting. The fellow will receive clinical and research supervision with licensed, board-certified faculty leading the project and accrue postdoctoral clinical hours that can be applied for licensure. Individualized development plans for a clinical research career will be negotiated and supported based on the fellow’s interest and time commitment.

Required Qualifications/Experience:

Requires a postdoctoral degree in a health profession (e.g., psychology, rehabilitation therapies, counseling, social work, nursing, or related field)
Expertise in delivering educational, preventive or therapeutic treatments/interventions
Proficiency in developing, navigating and maintaining database files (e.g., REDCap, Excel, SPSS, etc.)
Evidence of excellent initiation, interpersonal and organizational skills
Evidence of excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Publication history in the field of TBI, neurorehabilitation or a related clinical field
Interest and commitment to improving the lives of Veterans and/or civilians with acquired disabilities and/or their families
Evidence of working well as part of a research project or team
Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a team member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

Experience conducting experiments and/or clinical trials
Clinical or research experience working with Veterans, Service members, or civilians with acquired disabilities and/or their families
Proficient quantitative data analysis skills including the ability to use statistical packages (SPSS)
Demonstrated success conducting independent research
Individuals with interest in pursuing a clinical research career in physical rehabilitation, long-term supports and services, or a closely related field are strongly encouraged to apply

University Title: Post Doc

This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon availability of funding.

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.