Postdoctoral Researcher

Department Overview

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, known as one of the pioneers in personalized cancer medicine, is an international leader in research and cancer treatment. Driven by its mission to end cancer as we know it, the institute is building upon its expertise in targeted treatments to advance the early detection of cancer when the disease is most treatable.

 

The position is for a post-doctoral researcher to work on NIH funded projects in cancer, aging and exercise under the direction of Principal Investigator, Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone. Dr. Winters-Stone’s laboratory is focused on improving the health and well-being of cancer survivors, with a particular emphasis on exercise rehabilitation. The lab uses both observational and interventional approaches to identify cancer treatment related toxicities, with a focus on musculoskeletal health, that drives development and testing of prescriptive exercise programs to improve long term outcomes, such as fall avoidance and survival. We are a busy, high-energy, fast-paced team that is doing research to improve people’s lives and change healthcare, thus, we seek a candidate with similar passions, drive, and work ethic.

 

Every Knight Cancer employee is expected to embody our guiding principles: 

• We act BOLDLY—Breakthroughs require pushing the boundaries of science, exploring new frontiers, and thinking differently
• We SUPPORT each other—Respect leads to trust, which leads to excellence
• We work as a CONNECTED team—We must leverage our collective brain power to conquer cancer because no one individual can do it alone

Function/Duties of Position

This postdoctoral researcher will assist the PI with NIHs grant to build capacity that will fill critical research and practice gaps in cancer, exercise and aging. They will specifically help oversee and manage study activities for projects that use technology to track multi-dimensional functioning in older cancer survivors undergoing treatment and a phase II exercise intervention in functionally-limited cancer survivors. They will help assist with and run a patient advisory group, under the direction of the Knight Community Outreach and Engagement program; will help oversee either a longitudinal observation study and/or a clinical exercise trial. The postdoctoral fellow can gain experience in using digital technology, using patient-reported and clinically measured outcomes, longitudinal methods, clinical trial design and execution, and intervention development. We are looking for an individual with substantial clinical research experience, academic training in health sciences including, but not limited to the following areas: exercise oncology, cancer survivorship, gerontology, and/or rehabilitation science, and demonstrated ability to produce scientific papers and presentations. This is an excellent opportunity to gain research experience and build a CV for a competitive academic position. The PI will provide mentorship in development of independent grant submissions.

 

 

Research activities including project management and oversight and coordination of the patient advisory board, research design, project management, regulatory documentation, and research assistant/student oversight.

Assist with data analysis and manuscript preparation: conduct simple descriptive data analysis; work with statistical team on analysis planning and execution; assist with other dissemination activities such as scientific presentations; work with the PI on manuscript planning and writing

Required Qualifications

Education & experience:

• PhD in health sciences or related field
• 1 to 3 years of relevant clinical research experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Prior experience in human research studies (including recruitment), data management and analysis, and writing IRB applications, and using MS Word, Excel, SPSS, Endnote.
• Ability to work with PI and lab manager and other project directors to independently carry out research and related work
• Ability to communicate clearly, demonstrate a high level of professionalism and interact well with collaborators, participants, medical staff
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English language.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years research experience + project management experience. Demonstrated academic writing and presentation experience
• Experience overseeing clinical research (e.g,. exercise or nutrition) and/or working with clinical populations, older adults and/or cancer survivors, writing grant progress reports and grant proposals is highly desired.
• Skills related to meeting organization, literature reviews, manusc