Available Position : Postdoctoral Fellow

[PaiLab]

Important note: This is NOT a laboratory‐based (bench science) fellowship. The focus is on applied implementation/operational research in clinical and field settings, use of novel methodological and statistical approaches, and evidence‐based HIV diagnostic policies and practices. Applicants interested in basic science research on diagnostics will not be eligible for this fellowship.

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Point‐of‐Care Diagnostics Research in HIV and Co‐infections

McGill University & McGill University Health Centre – Montreal, Canada

September 2012

About McGill University

McGill University is Canada's leading research university, consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the world.

About Our Lab

Our point‐of‐care diagnostics lab is based at the McGill University Health Centre. We have been involved in evaluating point‐of‐care

(POC) technologies in resource‐limited settings. Recently, we have also extended our work in developed settings. We are exclusively focused on evaluating screening and diagnostic tools for HIV and related co‐infections and blood borne infections (i.e., Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Syphilis).

Our lab is involved in developing innovative strategies to self‐test for HIV in South Africa and India. This work is funded by Grand Challenges Canada. Our lab is also involved in evaluating multiplexed POC assays (specifically, assays that detect HIV and coinfections) in Montreal and India – this work is funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.

We are a strong methodological group, involved in conducting meta‐analyses and developing and applying novel methodological, statistical and modeling approaches to diagnostics research. Other ongoing work includes evaluation of accuracy, clinical impact and cost‐effectiveness, and assessing barriers to the use of POC tests.

Our collaborators are based around the world, and include the United States, UK, South Africa, India, and across provinces in Canada.

How to apply

Applications are invited from recent PhD or MD graduates for a one year, full‐time fellowship, starting September 2012. The salary range is $50,000 ‐ $55,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and research experience. Extended Health and Dental Insurance will be made available through the Post‐Graduate Student’s Society.

Depending on funding availability and performance, the fellowship may be extended by another year.

Requirements

• a recent MD (with relevant specialization) or PhD degree with a background in epidemiology, clinical research, infectious diseases or public health (as per McGill regulations,
  
• individuals whose most recent degree [PhD or MD] was obtained over 5 years ago are not eligible for postdoctoral positions)
  
• an excellent academic record, with good quantitative, verbal and communication skills
  
• research experience, particularly in HIV diagnostic research; experience in modeling is desirable
  
• a record of publication (a good publication record in HIV diagnostics is required)
  
• experience with statistical software such as STATA
  
• a research program development plan that would be highly competitive in provincial and national funding competitions for
  postdoctoral awards
  
• fluency in English (verbal and written); fluency in French is desirable.
  

Job Description

The postdoctoral fellow will function as a junior investigator, participating fully in teaching, research and related scholarly activities

and would be encouraged to apply for independent salary and research funding.

Specifically, the fellow would act as a junior

investigator on an implementation science project aimed at identifying barriers to implementation of POC testing, including selftesting

initiatives, and modeling the impact of these technologies in developing settings.

The fellow will provide oversight at the collaborating international sites, conduct systematic reviews and meta‐analyses, write summary reports, conduct data management and analysis, prepare manuscripts, assist in writing grant proposals, and conduct methodological/statistical projects on diagnostic research.

Travel abroad may be required.

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit an application via email, consisting of a cover letter (including a statement of research interests and prior experience in HIV diagnostic research), Curriculum Vitae, contact information of 2 relevant referees, along with 3 sample HIV publications to:

Nitika Pant Pai, MD, MPH, PhD

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine

Member, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Royal Victoria Hospital

McGill University & Research Institute of the MUHC

687 Pine Avenue West, V building

Montreal, Canada H3A 1A1

Email: nitika.pai@mcgill.ca ‐ Website: http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/clinepi_nikki/home.htm