Job Description

The Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) is an intensive experience that provides opportunities both for self-directed research and interdisciplinary collaboration that prepares candidates who have completed the PhD for future academic/university or industry-related positions. This is achieved through collaborative and independent work with deep involvement in ongoing projects and the anticipation to develop and implement independent but mentored research.

Strong candidates for this program have graduate-level training in one or more of the following areas: statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, health economics, ethics, computer sciences, or machine learning or related fields. Applications from those with appropriate analytical skills from fields of psychology, neuropsychology, sociology, genetics, anthropology, urban studies, measurement and evaluation, policy, mathematics, spatial analysis, health services, demography, or other related fields would also be considered. A purely basic science or isolated medical sciences background alone without demonstrated expertise through relevant education or publications or other evidence in one or more of the above fields will be insufficient for this position.

The PDF Program combines academic research, education, and professional work with progressive mentoring from a multidisciplinary group of professors and researchers. Fellows contribute directly to the program of research through their action-oriented involvement in workgroups, development of new methods, and managing and driving research projects to meet deliverables.

The purpose of the fellowship is to:

• Prepare fellows for future positions in academia, national health agencies, industry, international organizations, and foundations.
• Enhance skills in designing and implementing in-depth methodological research related to clinical neurosurgery, injury prevention, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and policy.
• Develop an understanding of the current landscape, scope, and challenges of clinical research, clinical trials, observational and prognostic studies, and policy analysis.
• Strengthen the ability to mentor junior researchers, including students and research personnel.
• Develop skills related to writing, obtaining, and managing grants and publishing manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals

Postdoctoral Fellows will have an opportunity to be involved in primarily clinically-oriented research projects of relevance to neurosurgery, trauma, or health promotion. There are a number of ongoing projects pertaining to a clinical trial in subdural hematoma, the legalization of cannabis, acromegaly, and other pituitary disorders, prognosis, ethics, critical neurosurgical care, and traumatic brain injury and injury prevention. For example, the RCL impact study involves assessing the impact of recreational cannabis legalization in Canada and the TRACE study involves a clinical RCT in subdural hematoma. Typical opportunities with associated expectations would include:

• Preparing and/or performing efficacy analysis related to health outcomes of the RCL impact, TRACE. TFFK program.
• Cluster analysis and complex multidimensional analyses including integration of geospatial and other factors in understanding outcomes of the RCL impact, TFFK. Machine learning analysis related to SDH and acromegaly, and other conditions.
• Performing analyses for the current studies and other research projects mentioned above.
• Liaising with the Institute of Clinical and Evaluative Sciences for data analyses and studies.
• Supervision of students
• Preparation and assisting in the preparation and submission of manuscripts of the study findings
• Preparation of grant proposals related to this and other studies.

Expectations

Post Doctoral Fellow will be expected to complete the following:

• Take part in and oversee all aspects of at least 2 research studies
• Co-author and submit at least 3 manuscripts per year; First author at least 2 manuscripts per year
• Develop and submit 2 grant proposals per year
• Submit Research Ethics Board applications if needed
• Supervise students, graduate and undergraduate students
• Present research findings at national and international scientific meetings

Post Doctoral Fellowships are appointed for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year.

Funding

The salary for Postdoctoral Fellows is $45,000-$55,000/year

- All Postdoctoral Fellow candidates are expected to apply for further personal funding through scholarships and other sources, so that salary can be topped up to a max of $80,000 per annum.

Eligibility/Requirements

To be considered for a Post Doctoral Fellowship, candidates must have the following:

• A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, economics, psychology, sociology, geospatial analysis, machine learning, or other related fields as noted above
• Completion of PhD within 7 years at the time of application
• A strong quantitative and qualitative analysis background
• Advanced research experience, especially with data analysis, health economics, statistical geospatial, and machine learning, methods
• Strong writing skills
• A keen motivation to make a difference and to achieve goals.

Application Requirements

Applications for the IPRO Post Doctoral Fellowship are considered on a continual basis and must include: * A cover letter that includes:

• Your full contact information (address, phone number, and e-mail).
• The name, affiliation, and full contact information of three references.
• How you learned about the program.
• Your curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement describing your professional and academic interests and objectives for the fellow and for the longer term. Personal statements should be 500 - 1,000 words.
• Three letters of recommendation should be sent or emailed directly to our office. Referees should place their letters onto official letterhead and signed in blue pen. Alternatively, three sealed letters of recommendation, one of which should be from the thesis supervisor or for PDFs, or a mentor of current research.
• The educational transcript from your highest degree attained. If your transcripts are not in English, please also provide a translated listing of all coursework with grade and credit hour information.
• An English reprint of your most significant publication or last 3 research paper(s).
• Proof of proficiency in English for candidates whose native language is not English.

• Candidates who have completed a degree wholly in English can provide a copy of their degree. All other candidates should send a copy of their scores on an approved English language test, specifically:
• The Princeton Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): For the paper based test, minimum overall score of 600, including a minimum score of 5.0 in the test of written English; for the computer based test, minimum overall score of 250, including a minimum score of 5.0 in the test of written English; for the Internet based test, a minimum overall score of 100, including a minimum score of 24 in the test of written English.
• The British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A minimum score of 7.0 overall, including a minimum score of 7.0 in the written component.
• Please note: preference will be given to those candidates who show evidence of secured stipend support from independent sources for the duration of the PDF Program.
• Unity Health recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and those career interruptions due to personal circumstances can be part of an excellent academic record. Search committee members have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of, career interruptions in their assessments.
• Unity Health Toronto's commitment to anti-racism, equity, and social accountability is essential to our ability to provide exceptional care experiences and to drive research and academic excellence. We encourage applications from qualified candidates and especially welcome applicants who are Indigenous, Black or racialized, persons with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ2+, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

As a condition of employment, all external hires will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or documentation unless a valid accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code exists. Please note, if you are extended an offer of employment, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination in Ontario QR Code format. All internal candidates must be in compliance with Unity Health Toronto's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.