A230903
Mentor: Dr. Frank Puga, Department of Nursing
Postdoctoral Trainee Position
Mentor: Dr. Frank Puga, School of Nursing
The Puga Stress Aging and Resilience (StAR) Lab is seeking a highly motivated candidate for an available postdoctoral training position. Our research focuses on the stress and mental health profiles of older adults living with chronic illness and their care partners. Specifically, we use multi-time scale designs and apply multi-level modeling and group-based trajectory modeling to a) examine inter-and intra-individual variations in psychological distress, b) identify psychosocial, cultural, behavioral, and biological factors that increase resilience to stress, and c) develop and test resilience-based interventions to support the well-being of individuals impacted by dementia and cancer. Much of the lab’s work focuses on minoritized populations disproportionately impacted by stress and poor mental health outcomes, specifically Latino/a/x/e and LGBTQ+ populations.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Puga, the postdoctoral trainee will contribute to an NIH-funded study examining the relationship between contextual, individual-level, and cultural factors that impact daily and long-term patterns of depression and anxiety symptoms among Latino/a/x/e family caregivers of individuals living with dementia. The postdoctoral trainee will be involved in research examining caregiving-related stressors associated with mental health outcomes and coping strategies used by Latino/a/x/e dementia caregivers.
The postdoctoral trainee will be involved in grant writing with the goal of submitting competitive funding proposals for mentored career or research development awards (K-award or equivalent). Other responsibilities include:
- Quantitative data management for ongoing federally funded studies
- Analysis of existing data
- Leading and supporting manuscript development
- Leading and supporting grant proposal development
The successful candidate will have a PhD in psychology, nursing, public health, gerontology, or other health related fields completed within the past two years. Candidates should have skills in data analysis and writing. A background in social behavioral research focused on caregiving, dementia, aging, or mental health is highly preferred.
Interested candidates should send their CV, a brief statement of research interests (1 to 2 pages) and contact information for three professional references to Dr. Frank Puga (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
About our Postdoc Office
UAB is committed to the development and success of outstanding postdoctoral scientists. Here at UAB, nearly 300 postdoctoral fellows are training currently in a variety of disciplines. Competitive postdoc awards are available including internships, grant incentives, funds to enhance education and collaboration outside UAB, and teaching opportunities at local universities. There is also a Postdoc Research Day with monetary awards. The Office of Postdoctoral Education strongly encourages UAB research mentors to follow the National Research Service Award stipend level guidelines, and postdoctoral scholars qualify for health, life, and other insurances. They also have the right to participate in the university’s 403(b) program and enjoy vacation, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, and other benefits.
About the University
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic health center that discovers, teaches, and applies knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state, and beyond. UAB is internationally renowned for its intensely collaborative culture that has — for more than five decades — produced breakthroughs in education, health care, research, and service. UAB was ranked #1 in the United States, and in the top 10 worldwide, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2018 Young University Rankings.
Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with over 26,000 employees and has an annual state-wide economic impact exceeding $7.15 billion. U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 14 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and 10 UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2018-2019 Best Hospitals report. UAB research grants and awards are at a record high, exceeding $527 million in FY18, including $320 million in NIH funding for FY18. UAB ranks 31st among all universities in federal research funding and 15th among public universities. UAB's NIH funding continues to grow among peer institutions in the Southeast and beyond, with the university ranking 20th among all universities in NIH funding and eighth among public universities. The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is ranked 21st among medical schools in NIH funding and eighth among public medical schools.
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity, and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.
For more information on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at UAB, visit the UAB Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion opens a new website, call (205) 934-8762, or contact the office at 701 20th Street South, AB 336, Birmingham, AL 35294-0103.
