Postdoctoral Scholar, Community-based Youth Mental Health and Trauma Research

Description

Area: Community-based Youth Mental Health and Trauma Research

Duration: One year with possibility of extension

Start Date: November 2024

Salary: $50,000 per annum plus benefits

The Faculty of Social Work and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in Community-based Youth Mental Health and Trauma Research.

Job Description:
A post-doctoral scientist position is available as part of a large youth mental health research program under the co-supervision of Drs. Gina Dimitropoulos, David Lindenbach and Emily Wang at the University of Calgary and Hull Services.

The successful candidate will join a team of researchers and clinicians working on transdisciplinary approaches to addressing complex trauma in community settings. Our team utilizes a combination of psychotherapy, movement-based therapy, parent training, peer support, and staff wellness interventions to improve care for youth and families struggling with mental illness. We use multiple methods to address our research questions, including participatory designs, qualitative interviewing, psychometric surveys, administrative data analysis, and systematic reviews. The research question drives the methodology, so ambitious applicants can develop new skills to grow professionally.

This position is supported by the Mitacs Accelerate program as part of a partnership between University of Calgary researchers and Hull Services. Hull Services is a leading provider of mental health services for youth and families, and works with many clients impacted by complex trauma. In 2023, Hull Services started an independent research program that leverages the strengths of community-university partnerships to perform rigorous applied research in real-world settings focused on improving the response to complex trauma.

Candidates have the opportunity to join a large, productive team of researchers with diverse expertise in youth mental health and a robust network of collaborators at universities and non-profits at a local, national and international level. There are opportunities to be involved in other projects related to youth mental health and trauma conducted in academic, educational and healthcare settings. There are also career development opportunities, including the mentoring and supervision of students and trainees in the field.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in social science or health science field
• Experience with applied or community-based research
• Experience with youth mental health or trauma research
• Experience applying different methods of data analysis to answer practical questions
• Experience with knowledge translation activities including knowledge mobilization and implementation science is an asset
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven ability to work independently, manage competing deadlines and demands within a team setting
• Ability to supervise/mentor students and research assistants

Application details:
Individuals interested in this opportunity should contact Drs. Gina Dimitropoulos (gdimit@ucalgary.ca), David Lindenbach (dlindenbach@hullservices.ca), and Emily Wang (ewang@hullservices.ca). Please include the following in your application:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Any relevant publications
• Names and contact information of three references

The position is located in Calgary, Alberta and some in-person work will be required. Applicants from outside of Alberta will need to move to Alberta in order to comply with the collective bargaining agreement for postdoctoral associates. Since this position is partially funded by Mitacs, applicants must be within five years of receiving their PhD.

Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is identified. We thank all applicants' interests, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted for more information and invited to interview.

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, and is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding diversity EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).