Postdoctoral Fellow

Competition 2454

This position is part of the Post Doctoral Fellows Association and has an initial appointment of 1 year, with the possibility of extension.

This position has a comprehensive benefits package.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person work at North Campus Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Department of Physical Therapy

The Department of Physical Therapy in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Office of Lifelong Learning Physician Learning Program in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta are accepting applications for a postdoctoral position in implementation science, co-supervised by Dr. Denise Campbell-Scherer and Dr. Erin McCabe.

Position Summary

Project

Despite decades of effort, low back pain (LBP) remains a significant problem. Increasing in prevalence yearly, LBP now creates more disability than any other condition, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health, and autoimmune diseases. Fortunately, treatments are available.

An internationally recognized education and exercise program - GLA:D Back - is the type of non-pharmacological intervention most often recommended by global guidelines for chronic LBP. GLA:D Back has been successfully implemented in seven of Alberta’s Primary Care Networks. The current project aims to study what has worked well in those settings to scale, spread and sustain GLA:D back in additional primary care settings. 

This position has an annual salary of $70,000 with a  comprehensive benefits package. Funding is available to support this one-year position with the opportunity of extension.

Supervisors

Dr. Erin McCabe, Co-Project Lead, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy who uses a health systems and policy research lens with the aim of improving access to evidence-based rehabilitation interventions and the amplification of the patient-voice into the health system. She uses implementation science, patient engagement, and community-engaged co-design approaches in her research.

Dr. Denise Campbell-Scherer is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Associate Dean for the Office of Lifelong Learning and Physician Learning Program(L3PLP). The office has two general areas of focus. There is a Physician Learning Program office whose mission is to create clinically active information and work with physicians, teams, partners and patients to co-create solutions to advance practice.  L3 supports education and skills development across clinical, leadership and improvement science to support physicians and interdisciplinary clinical providers continuing development. Together the L3PLP is an implementation hub for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

Duties 

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to be integral to the GLA:D Back project implementation evaluation. 

The postdoctoral fellow will function as a junior investigator, conducting an implementation evaluation of the GLA:D Back scale and spread, as well as being involved in other implementation science and community engagement projects. They will be expected to publish and to apply for fellowships. The successful candidate will work closely and cooperatively with Drs. McCabe, Campbell-Scherer and Dr. James Young, PI for the GLA:D Back project, as well as project coordinators and trainees

Minimum Qualifications

• Applications are invited from PhD graduates from any health or sociology related discipline.
• Expertise in qualitative methods, with experience in mixed methods research preferred.
• They will also have a demonstrated ability to work with a team, and excellent interpersonal skills. 
• Interest in implementation science.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams
• Excellent scientific writing skills, with a beginning record of publication
• Excellent academic record

Preferred Qualifications 

• Knowledge and experience with implementation science would be a strong asset.
• Background in exercise, rehabilitation and related disciplines would be an asset.
• Knowledge of healthcare systems particularly primary healthcare.
• Experience in community engagement.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit an application consisting of a one page cover letter, your curriculum vitae, and a sample of your writing. 

This position will be advertised until a suitable candidate is identified, however, review of applications will commence on July 15, 2025.