Vacancy - Department of Medical Social Sciences (MSS), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Applications of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

We are recruiting for a 2 year postdoctoral fellowship within the Department of Medical Social Sciences (MSS) Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.  Under the direction of David Cella, PhD,  MSS and the Center for Patient Centered Outcomes (PCOR) of the Institute for Public Health & Medicine focus on the development and application of health outcome science as it relates to the centrality and perspective of the patient and the integration of health related quality of life assessments into clinical research and clinical care.

The fellowship is a unique opportunity to orchestrate the application of a standardized electronic database of patient reported outcome (PROs) measures within a diverse array of comparative effectiveness research studies (CER), clinical trials and clinical care settings and a range of disease areas.   The fellowship will occur within the context of an innovative NIH funded study “PROSetta Stone” (PI Cella) designed to expand the range of PRO assessment options within a common, standardized metric as a means of promoting their use in both scientific and real-world settings.  Its overarching goal is to determine actionable thresholds (PRO endpoints) to serve as meaningful indicators of improvement or decline in therapeutic efficacy and effectiveness from the patient’s perspective.

The postdoc will work closely with Dr. Cella to craft and oversee a systematic implementation plan for PRO application and dissemination (including development of training and trouble-shooting protocols), coordinate and participate in scientific products from the study (e.g. organize and oversee manuscript preparation), and direct a range of scientific activities designed to promote PRO usability and adoption in clinical and clinical research communities. 

Candidates from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply (e.g. clinical or health psychology, psychometrics, educational assessment, health economics and policy) but must be conversant in multiple relevant areas in order to catalyze PRO applications across interactions with diverse stakeholders (e.g. ability to translate psychometric constructs to clinicians, convey clinical utility to quantitative scientists).  Training in some or all of the following areas is optimal: comparative effectiveness research, clinical trials, basic psychometrics, program development, health information technology and/or dissemination science. The position will provide excellent experience in taking scientific measures to scale via implementation in real-world settings.  Candidates must be highly detail-oriented, have excellent scientific writing and data analysis skills, and thrive in intense and collaborative environments.

Completion of the doctorate prior to the start of the position is required. Start date flexible. To apply, email materials (including a c.v., three letters of recommendation and a statement of research interests to Dr. David Cella, c/o Julie Kay (julie-kay@northwestern.edu ).  Applicants will be considered until the position is filled. Northwestern is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.