Post Doctoral Research Fellow Job Opening

 

MGH Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Shared Decision Making

We are seeking an outstanding researcher for a position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Health Decision Sciences Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. The fellow will carry out research in shared decision making. Specific research topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Measuring the quality of decisions and shared decision making from patient, provider and health system perspectives
  • Understanding resources and barriers to implementing shared decision making in cardiology care
  • Hybrid effectiveness-implementation studies of patient decision aids, and the impact of decision aids in different populations
  • Developing and evaluating the impact of clinician-focused interventions, including clinician training programs, on the quality of patient-physician communication and shared decision making

The fellow will report to Dr. Karen Sepucha and will have the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers in the Health Decision Sciences Center, the Division of General Internal Medicine (DGIM), as well as other departments across Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and MassGeneral Brigham Healthcare system. The position is based in Boston, MA. In this position, the fellow will develop research skills across a range of areas and will participate in ongoing and new studies that will require planning and carrying out primary data collection via web-based surveys, clinic-based surveys, field studies, and/or secondary analyses of existing data. Two PCORI-funded studies will provide a range of experience in multi-site randomized trials and implementation science.  One multisite study is a stepped wedge randomized trial examining the effectiveness of decision aids and clinician training on the quality of decisions for treatment of severe aortic stenosis. The implementation study is examining impact of health IT and clinician training on use of shared decision making in cancer screening. The fellow will be expected to have expertise in scientific writing and familiarity in one or more areas of shared decision making.

The fellow will have the opportunity to participate in monthly research-in-progress meetings with other fellows and research faculty across the Mongan Institute, monthly journal club with the HDSC, and will have access to a wide curriculum to support their development toward an independent researcher. The fellow will have the opportunity to present his/her research, participate in publications, and gain experience in grant writing. Travel to present at scientific meetings may also be possible depending on the project and interests of the fellow.

To apply: Please send a cover letter highlighting relevant experience and areas of interest, a C.V., and two representative publications or manuscripts in a single email to ksepucha@mgh.harvard.edu. Please include names, titles, and contact information for at least two references. Questions about the position may also be sent to the same address. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Required qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in psychology, public health, economics, decision sciences, management science, computer science, or any other relevant scientific discipline or M.D. with Master’s degree (e.g. M.P.H. or M.P.P.) completed by start of employment.
  • Scientific publications and evidence of strong scientific writing skills

Desired qualifications:

  • Experience with shared decision making, patient decision aids, risk communication
  • Experience with statistical analyses and statistical software
  • Experience with survey research methodology
  • Experience in interdisciplinary research, working in collaborative teams, and managing research assistants and evidence of strong communication skills
  • Experience in health care research, including IRB requirements, federal reporting requirements (e.g. clinicaltrials.gov)

Duration: This is a one-year position with the expectation of renewal for up to two more years conditional on performance.

 

Note: A research fellow is intended to be a short-term training position to be followed by a move to an independent investigator or research career position at a different institution.