A full-time Postdoctoral position is available on an annual 12-month appointment in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.  This is a unique opportunity to work in the Research Lab of Dr. Kemi Doll, where our primary objective is investigating and ameliorating racial disparities in gynecologic oncology. There is a full-time Postdoctoral Research Scholar position open with Dr. Doll’s team and the Gynecologic Research and Cancer Equity (GRACE) Center.    

The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology’s research program has continued to grow over the last seven years and this position is vital to the success and growth of the department. The research program plays a critical role in offering innovative and life-saving care. The Department of Ob/Gyn is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community (see https://obgyn.uw.edu/diversity/diversity).  We encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds or interests align with this commitment. Women, transgender and non-binary individuals, and individuals from under-represented backgrounds in medicine and public health are strongly encouraged to apply. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2024.

The Post-Doctoral Research Scholar will be supervised by Dr. Kemi Doll, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Scholar should have a doctoral degree in Health Services Research, Health Behavior, or a related qualitative field.  The Scholar will join an interinstitutional team that is using cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate and intervene on inequity in the spectrum of gynecologic health, including both benign and cancer conditions. The ideal candidate will have training in execution, analysis, and reporting of qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups), mixed methods, and community engagement, as well as demonstrated interest in social determinants of racial inequalities in health.  

As a Postdoctoral Research Scholar, you will be a vital member of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team that includes biostatisticians, epidemiologists, data analysts, qualitative scientists, as well as grant administrators and project managers. The GRACE Center has multiple active projects that broadly address endometrial cancer inequities that affect Black women and gender expansive individuals and focus on intervention development, from pre-diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. Our active projects include EHR-based healthcare delivery analyses, interview and focus group work on health behavior, survey-based investigations on the science of engagement and patient-reported outcomes, and a national randomized trial to test community-based interventions for cancer treatment completion. We closely collaborate with social epidemiology colleagues at the University of North Carolina Departments of Health Policy and Management and Duke University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, along with colleagues in our own Schools of Public Health and Medicine. We also provide consultation services to the University of Washington Institute for Translational Health Science Community Engagement Core and outside institution research groups.

The Scholar will lead a mixed-methods prospective community-engaged research study on the science of engagement among Black-led endometrial cancer and prostate cancer research teams. This 3-year study will evaluate the use of self-identified social change roles and their impact on research engagement effectiveness and experience within two ongoing national community-university research partnerships. This project is grounded in the Public Health Critical Race praxis. The Scholar will lead the project execution and analysis for these projects and co-develop both academic and lay audience-oriented dissemination products of the results.  

This position is a combination of self-directed research as well as collaboration with existing team research projects. The Scholar’s day-to-day work will include literature reviews, interview guide development, facilitation of in-person and virtual interviews and focus groups (at times requiring travel), qualitative coding and analysis, supporting quantitative analysis of longitudinal survey data, manuscript writing and some supervision of trainees.  As part of the larger research Center, the Scholar will have the opportunity to mentor trainees, including medical residents, MPH students, and predoctoral students. The Scholar will also have the opportunity to collaborate on grant proposal development. 

In addition, to further the Scholar’s own professional development, approximately 20% of time can be spent on the Post-Doctoral Research Associate’s own research and the remaining 80% will be comprised of research supporting the PIs gynecologic research portfolio. The position offers other support for professional development, including travel to professional meetings per year with encouragement to present their work, pursuing relevant skill development and education that supports their career, and bi-weekly one on one mentoring with the PI to identify and strategize the scholar’s career interests. The position is renewable after the first year.

The base salary range for this position will be: $5,705 per month - $6,394 per month ($68,460 annually - $76,728 annually) commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. 

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Min Degree Requirements:  Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g. Sc.D., M.D.).  

Required Skills and Experience:

• Doctoral-level skills and proficiency in design, execution, and analysis of qualitative data and mixed methods reporting
•  Demonstrated interest in women’s health and healthcare or social determinants of racial inequalities in health
• Some track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals 
• Well-developed research skills including ability to execute searches using relevant search terms and algorithms and synthesize data from multiple sources
• Excellent data management skills, including strong proficiency with reference management systems

Ideal Candidate: The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to work independently, proactively communicate with other team members and collaborators, and take initiative to develop or support research projects. The ideal candidate will thrive in an interdisciplinary environment at the interface between the qualitative science, quantitative data, and community engagement. 

In addition, the ideal candidate should have

-               Excellent written and verbal communication skills

-               Initiative to independently spearhead new papers and projects to aid in team growth

-               Independent time management skills, including ability to prioritize workload

-               Strong problem-solving skills

-               Desire to work collaboratively amongst team members, including providing leadership to students and other research staff

-               Strong writing skills

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that individuals from marginalized backgrounds are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Applicants from underrepresented socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and gender identity and sexual orientation backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply to join our team. Our team thrives on insights that our diverse members bring to the design and interpretation of our research, and we are dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace that produces high quality scholarship. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways.

Please upload the following:  

a) CV 

b) 1-2 page Cover Letter, including the following: 1) current career stage (including expected graduation date if still in a PhD program), 2) ideal start date, 3) why you are a good fit for the position, 4) what skills and experience you have that are most salient for the position, and OPTIONAL 5) research interests related to gynecologic / gynecologic oncology. If applicable, please describe any interests or previous work in health care disparities and equity around issues of gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic position, geography, or other markers of stratification.  

c) List of Professional References (3), including with their titles, institutional affiliations, and how best to contact them (e.g., phone number, e-mail address)

d) OPTIONAL: Writing/Research Sample (preferably a peer-reviewed published manuscript)