Applied Decision Science in Cancer

at  MD Anderson Cancer Center

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services Research - Applied Decision Science in Cancer
The Decision Support Lab at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is accepting applications for postdoctoral research fellows interested in applied decision science. The Decision Support Lab is based in the Department of Health Services Research, under the leadership of Robert J. Volk, PhD (Director) and Lisa M. Lowenstein, PhD (Director of Implementation Science for the Decision Support Lab). The Lab also operates the Decision Science Core at MD Anderson (a shared resource funded by a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant) and the new Texas Decision Science Core (a state-wide, shared resource funded by a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Grant).
More information about the Decision Science Core can be found here: https://www.mdanderson.org/research/research-resources/core-facilities/decision-science-core-facility.html.
The Decision Support Lab is an innovative program that brings together multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, researchers, designers, and patients to produce and implement novel decision support tools to prepare patients for more productive discussions with their healthcare providers by helping them understand complex medical information, including the benefits and risks associated with screenings and treatments, and consider their personal values in making decisions about their care. By using high-quality research evidence in cancer care, the Decision Support Lab works toward the goal of promoting shared decision-making between patients and their clinicians across the cancer spectrum.
This postdoctoral fellowship will provide individuals with the opportunity to contribute to the design, implementation, analysis, dissemination, and publication of studies focusing on patient decision making in cancer care. Our research emphasizes priority populations including patients with low health literacy and patients whose primary language is not English.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications:

• Experience in secondary prevention of cancer, health services, or decision-making research is strongly preferred.
• Experience in intervention development and testing using surveys and qualitative methodology (e.g., focus groups, semi-structured interviews).
• Familiarity with user centered design for intervention development and/or implementation science principles.
• Expertise in quantitative data analysis is required using STATA, SAS, R, or SPSS.
• Expertise in qualitative methodology and/or mixed methods is desired but not required.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills are required as demonstrated by publications in decision science/patient-centered outcomes/health communication/health services research.

Education:
Qualified candidates should have a Doctorate Degree in in health services research, public health, psychology, epidemiology, biostatistics, engineering, informatics, human factors, or a related field.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications:

• Experience in secondary prevention of cancer, health services, or decision-making research is strongly preferred.
• Experience in intervention development and testing using surveys and qualitative methodology (e.g., focus groups, semi-structured interviews).
• Familiarity with user centered design for intervention development and/or implementation science principles.
• Expertise in quantitative data analysis is required using STATA, SAS, R, or SPSS.
• Expertise in qualitative methodology and/or mixed methods is desired but not required.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills are required as demonstrated by publications in decision science/patient-centered outcomes/health communication/health services research.

Education:
Qualified candidates should have a Doctorate Degree in in health services research, public health, psychology, epidemiology, biostatistics, engineering, informatics, human factors, or a related field.

Job Responsibilities:

• Participating in research project meetings and Decision Support Lab meetings.
• Collecting and analyzing survey and qualitative data (as needed).
• Preparation of scientific manuscript and presentations for scientific meetings.
• In coordination with Dr. Volk and/or Dr. Lowenstein, lead the research team in writing manuscripts, disseminating findings at scientific meetings, and preparing grant applications

Job Responsibilities:

• Participating in research project meetings and Decision Support Lab meetings.
• Collecting and analyzing survey and qualitative data (as needed).
• Preparation of scientific manuscript and presentations for scientific meetings.
• In coordination with Dr. Volk and/or Dr. Lowenstein, lead the research team in writing manuscripts, disseminating findings at scientific meetings, and preparing grant applications