"RLK Post-Doctoral Associate"

About the Job

The School of Public Health division of Health Policy and Management is seeking applications for a Robert L. Kane Doctoral Fellowship position (9546 Post-Doctoral Associate).

Minnesota is a leading hub of long-term care innovation in the United States. It is often ranked at or near the top of the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) annual State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) for Older Adults (http://www.longtermscorecard.org/), due to the dynamic collaboration that exists between researchers, policymakers, providers, and Minnesotans themselves to expand what is possible in how and where older persons live. The University of Minnesota, as the state’s flagship research and land-grant institution, has long played a central role in fostering robust, engaged partnerships to advance long-term care locally, regionally, and nationally.

The Robert L. Kane Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Aging, Dementia, and Long-Term Care will nurture scholars with interests in gerontology, geriatrics, long-term care (e.g., family, community-based, or residential), clinical intervention, health disparities, and health services research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs).

Duration: This appointment is for 1 year, may be extended for a second year depending on satisfactory performance and funding availability.

Starting Date: Begin in Winter 2026. Start date negotiable.

Starting pay Based on NIH NRSA postdoctoral stipend levels.

• Postdoc No Experience: $62,232
• Postdoc 1 year of Experience: $62,652
• Postdoc 2 years of Experience: $63,120

is set at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Post-Doctoral position salary range at 100% over 2 years, plus a travel stipend to attend a national conference each year.

The University of Minnesota endorses a “Work. With Flexibility.” and we offer a flexible work environment that meets the needs of our students, faculty, staff, and partners we serve. The successful candidate is expected to have access to a reliable internet connection for duties undertaken remotely. We encourage hybrid arrangements where the PostDoc can visit in-person regularly to build professional rapport and network in various events. Onsite location: West Bank Office Building - 1300 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, Twin Cities Campus - West-bank

Sponsorship: Please note, we are not offering H-1B or Green Card sponsorship for this position. This position does offer a STEM OPT training program.

Successful candidates will have strong substantive expertise/interests in one or more of the following areas: long-term care, healthcare systems and delivery, prevention and management of ADRD, intervention design/development, systems innovation, health equity, and quality of care/quality of life in older adults and their family/professional caregivers.

Methodological skills in one or more of the following areas are preferred: (1) experimental and observational designs; (2) intervention research; (3) quantitative methods; (4) qualitative or mixed-methods; (5) community-engaged research methodologies; (6) program or policy evaluation; and/or (7) implementation and dissemination.

Ample opportunities exist to develop an independent program of research in one or more of the areas above in collaboration with the Director, Joseph E. Gaugler, PhD (the Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care & Aging and Professor in the School of Public Health), Associate Director Tetyana Shippee, PhD (Professor, School of Public Health), Eric Jutkowitz, PhD (Associate Professor, School of Public Health), Manka Nkimbeng, RN, MPH, PhD (Assistant Professor, School of Public Health) and many other faculty with expertise in aging. Specifically, Robert L. Kane Post-Doctoral Fellows (associates) will have the opportunity to join and can seek additional mentorship from a diverse and vibrant group of research programs, including:

• Dr. Gaugler’s Families and LTC Projects, whose mission is to build systems and solutions that empower and improve the quality of life of persons with memory loss and their families across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic boundaries;
• Dr. Shippee’s EQuaLS Projects, whose mission is to assess measures of person-centered quality for users of long-term services and supports and develop system-level solutions to address health equity;
• The Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation;
• The Establishing Mechanisms of Benefit to Reinforce the Alzheimer’s Care Experience (EMBRACE) AD/ADRD Roybal Center;
• The State Alzheimer’s Research Support (StARS) Center;
• The BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving;
• The Center for Learning Health Systems;
• The School of Nursing’s Center for Aging Science and Clinical Innovation (CASCI);
• The Life Course Center;
• N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care;
• Minnesota Northstar Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program;
• The Center for Community Engaged Rural Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research; and
• A wealth of other opportunities are afforded by the University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UL1TR002494, KL2TR002492), the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH; K12HD055887); and many others.

Expectations of Robert L. Kane Doctoral Fellows (associates) include the following activities: collaborating with and leading efforts to design research projects, acquiring funding, conducting high-quality research, publishing peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and/or books, and participating in community and University activities that promote aging science.

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Earned doctorate, or international equivalent
• Evidence of productivity in a defined area of research and scholarship
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Effective interpersonal and organizational abilities
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace.

Preferred qualifications

• Recognition in an area of scholarship
• Experience securing external research funding or willingness to seek and apply for various research funding
• Substantive research publication record

About the Department

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) is Minnesota's only school of public health, committed to improving the health and well-being of communities worldwide. Through innovative research, learning, and concrete action, we tackle today's biggest health challenges. SPH includes four academic divisions: Biostatistics & Health Data Science, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology & Community Health, and Health Policy & Management.

Ranked nationally by the U.S. News & World Report as the #6 public school of public health, SPH is home to approximately 1,000 students, 130 faculty, and 400 staff across 25 internationally recognized centers. Our academic excellence is highlighted by our #3-ranked Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and #9-ranked Biostatistics programs.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: Based on NIH NRSA postdoctoral stipend levels. Depending on education/qualifications/experience

• Postdoc No Experience: $62,232
• Postdoc 1 year of Experience: $62,652
• Postdoc 2 years of Experience: $63,120

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

How To Apply

Please note: At this time, the University’s employment site is limited in how it collects applicant demographic information. Applicants are encouraged to provide their pronouns and/or preferred name within their attached application materials.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Required:

1. A letter of intent (no more than 2 pages) that expresses interest in the Robert L. Kane Postdoctoral Fellowship (associateship); summarizes past and future plans for research in aging; demonstrates a commitment to a future career as an independent scientist conducting research on aging; and includes a summary of areas the applicant wishes to further develop while a Robert L. Kane Postdoctoral Fellow (associate).
2. An up-to-date NIH Biosketch
3. Contact information for 3-5 external references

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.