Post Doctoral Scholar in Microbiome and Health/Developmental Psychology Job ID: 18852 University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences Canada

Position Description

Area: Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology and Cumming School of Medicine, Community Health Sciences and Department of Pediatrics 

Duration:One year; renewable for an additional year

Start Date: October 2019

Salary:$55,000/year plus Plan C health benefits through Alberta Blue Cross

The Department of Community Health Sciences and Pediatrics in the Cumming School of Medicine and the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the area of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD).

Job Description:

Our team is recruiting a scholar to become part of an active and innovative research program that is elucidating the links between gut microbiota, mental health, neurodevelopment, and health behaviors (sleep, diet, exercise) in children. The scholar’s work will help to identify novel and actionable intervention targets to optimize neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. 

The source data for the scholar’s work will be an ongoing cohort study (PI Giesbrecht) that has been funded until 2025 by grants from CIHR. This study has prospectively followed a cohort of 450 women and their offspring beginning from early pregnancy and currently through to child age 6. We have collected biological samples and questionnaire data to accurately document participants' physiological and psychological experiences of stress and mental health. In our most recent data collection at 4 years of age, we conducted comprehensive neurocognitive assessments, collected stress biomarkers, and health behavior data from 389 preschool children. The scholar will have immediate access to this data to address questions about the influence of the role of gut microbiota in child development outcomes. We will train the scholar in assessment and analysis of health behaviors, an area of neglected research in relation to the microbiome. These training opportunities will position the scholar with unique interdisciplinary research expertise to launch the next phase of their academic career.

Qualifications:

•     Applicants must hold a PhD and have experience working with gut microbiota data
•     Desired qualifications also include experience with (or training in) experimental and longitudinal research design and analysis
•     Applicants are required to have demonstrated capacity to work effectively in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.
•     Fellows are expected to engage in full-time research activities and actively engage in the University of Calgary’s professional development program as opportunities are being offered.
•     The successful scholar will be strongly encouraged to apply for national/international awards.

Application Details:

The postdoctoral scholar will be co-supervised by Drs. Giesbrecht and Tomfohr-Madsen. For additional information about ours labs and ongoing work please visit www.ucalgary.ca/devpsychlab/ and www.healthfamilieslab.com.

To apply, please contact Dr. Gerry Giesbrecht (ggiesbre@ucalgary.ca) and/or Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen (ltomfohr@ucalgary.ca) directly.