Postdoctoral Fellow - Goals of Care Research

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Goals of Care Research - Center for Goal Concordant Care Research

The Center for Goal Concordant Care Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center is currently recruiting clinician scientists and scientists for open postdoctoral fellow positions in Goals of Care research. The primary goal of the Goals of Care Postdoctoral fellowship program is to provide multi-disciplinary research training for clinician-scientists and scientists in goals of care research.

About the Center for Goal Concordant Care Research

Goal concordant care, an institutional priority at MD Anderson, aims at improving communication among patients, caregivers and clinicians, enhancing the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer and their families, and delivering high quality end-of-life care. To address these challenges, MD Anderson has established the Center for Goal Concordant Care Research. The Center aims to bridge existing knowledge gaps by leveraging cutting-edge scientific advancements to tailor appropriate care interventions for the right patient at the right time.

The overarching vision is to establish the Center for Goal Concordant Care Research as the preeminent international research center revolutionizing the science of person-centered, goal-concordant, and value-based care. The Center for Goal Concordant Care Research is expected to accelerate research in patient-clinician communication and supportive/palliative care, ultimately enhancing care for patients with advanced cancer worldwide. This will benefit not only patients but also caregivers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems.

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. Postdoc trainees 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.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Opportunities in this fellowship include:

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.

Activities:

Participate in research project meetings and Center for Goal Concordant Care Research Center meetings.
Participate and lead in the protocol development for research projects, including, but not limited to randomized clinical trials and prospective longitudinal studies to ensure scientific rigor and project success in partnership with the study's investigators.
Compile and analyze quantitative and qualitative clinical and survey data (as needed).
Scholarly activities involving the preparation of scientific manuscripts, abstracts and presentations for scientific meetings.
Preparing grant applications for various intramural and extramural funding opportunities.

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.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INFORMATION
Term:

The fellowship is a one-year, full-time commitment (40 hours per week), renewable upon mutual consent. Opportunities for the fellow to write and submit his/her individual grant would be provided and strongly supported by the PI and the institution.

To apply, the following documents must be uploaded to the application single PDF in the following order:

1) Research/Interest Statement (2-page limit) specifying past research experience, interests, and future goals
2) Curriculum Vitae
3) At least 2 letters of reference from collaborators/faculty mentors

Contact Information:

Please email materials to Maribel Mosqueda at mgespitia@mdanderson.org with the subject line entitled "CGCCR Research Fellow Application - Applicant's Name." Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Institution:

MD Anderson consistently tops U.S. News & World Report's list for cancer care ("America's Best
Hospitals") and is located in the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the world's largest. The proximity of the
TMC to Rice University and the Museum District, light rail connections to world-class performing arts and professional sporting venues, a short drive from Galveston and the Texas coast, and a diverse population of Houston are a few features of this uniquely cosmopolitan and affordable city.

POSITION INFORMATION
MD Anderson offers full-time postdoc positions with a salary ranging from $64,000 to $76,000. depending on the number of years of postgraduate experience. MD Anderson trainee compensation also includes:

Paid medical benefits (zero premium) starting on the first day for trainees who work 30 or more hours per week
Group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability coverage
Paid education, vacation, and sick leave
Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs
Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans
Employer-paid life, AD&D, and an illness-related reduced salary pay program
Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement flexible spending accounts
Fertility benefits
State of Texas longevity pay
Extensive wellness, fitness, employee health programs, and employee resource groups12/31/2024