Postdoctoral Scholar

The Division of Preventive Oncology, Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Cancer Epidemiology.

Job Description:
The postdoctoral fellow will primarily focus on research examining biologic mechanisms involved in breast cancer survival under the supervision of Drs. Lin Yang, Research Scientist with Alberta Health Services and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, and Darren Brenner, Associate Professor and Armstrong Investigator in Molecular Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Calgary. Dr. Yang is investigating several research questions in the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) Cohort Study led by Drs Christine Friedenreich and Kerry Courneya. The AMBER cohort study has been on-going since 2012 as a CIHR-funded team grant. The overall goal of AMBER is to generate new knowledge regarding the role of device-measured and comprehensively assessed physical activity,
sedentary behaviour, and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivorship. With respect to this postdoctoral scholar position, a particular area of focus is investigating the biologic mechanisms that may be occurring between physical
activity, sedentary behaviour, health-related fitness and breast cancer outcomes. Our department is also the home of several other externally funded observational and interventional studies characterizing the role of modern lifestyle throughout the entire cancer care continuum. Numerous opportunities exist for the successful candidate to obtain
additional specialized training, contribute to multiple on-going and planned research studies, to publish and present scholarly work, and to develop their own area of research expertise leading to an independent principal investigator.

Skills/Expertise Required:
– Handling complex longitudinal datasets;
– Conducting quality checks on self-reported, device-measured, and biomarker data;
– Conducting basic and advanced statistical modeling in Stata and/or R;
– Documenting data checking decision making and data analyses procedures;
– Preparing tables and visualization of data analyses as well as scientific written summaries;
– Leading the writing and preparation of manuscripts for publication;
– Presenting research findings at provincial, national, and international conferences;
– Contributing to the development of new grant applications;
– Establishing and maintaining effective, productive relationships in a diverse team; and may
– Contributing to supervising staff members and/or trainees.

This position is with the Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health and the Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health
Services. These departments have extensive resources and infrastructure to support research. The postdoctoral fellow will also have opportunities to attend and contribute to seminars and research rounds. In addition, this position has competitive remuneration and health benefits.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have recently graduated (within the last 5 years) with a PhD in Epidemiology, Public Health or related disciplines and have excellent academic credentials. Evidence of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly presentations is necessary. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in cancer and molecular epidemiology, with knowledge in cancer research, and/or longitudinal cohort data. The individual should be
motivated and enthusiastic about cancer research, be capable of working independently as well working in a team, and have excellent oral and written English communication skills.

Application Details:
Individuals interested in this challenging and rewarding opportunity in growth-oriented departments should submit their curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and goals, and the names of three references. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, although others are encouraged to apply.

Please send application materials to:
Dr. Lin Yang
[email protected]