Join our team!

We seeking two postdoctoral fellows to co-lead a 2-yr interdisciplinary project funded by the New Frontiers in Research fund Exploration Grant. Please find job descriptions and how to apply below:

*Note there are two different positions described below. Scroll down and read both descriptions to ensure you are applying to the correct position.

Virtual Reality Co-Creation – Postdoctoral Fellow

Aging-in-Place Research Cluster, School of Health & Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia-Okanagan

Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada
Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Closing Date: Until filled
Start date: Sept 1, 2022 earliest

Description:

The University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus, invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Fellow (PDF) who specialises in Virtual Reality (VR), Human-Computer Interaction, and User-centered Design to join a team of researchers from Computer Science, Engineering, and Health on a research project to explore innovative ways of collaborative user-lead design.

The PDF will work with an interdisciplinary team of faculty led by Dr. Jennifer Jakobi (NPI, Professor in Health and Exercise Sciences (HES)) and Dr. Jennifer Boger (Co-PI, adjunct professor in HES) to co-lead researchers, computer science and engineering trainees, and older adults living in the community to co-design virtual reality technology for health and wellbeing.

The core role of this PDF position is to co-lead a New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Exploration grant-funded project to develop a new framework for co-design that includes end users (older adults) as peers within the design team through the creation of a new VR-based application. The successful candidate’s research will focus on: 1) guiding the development and evaluation of the VR application; 2) leading teamwork and communication between different stakeholders, and 3) establishing a co-constituted design framework, which includes guidance as to how to support and evaluate project management and team dynamics in this type of highly collaborative, user-driven co-design paradigm. The candidate will also have an opportunity to expand their learning and networking through UBC’s NSERC CREATE Program in Immersive Technologies (CITech), which serves as a highly multidisciplinary graduate training program across both campuses of UBC focusing on skills development and collaborative research to design immersive solutions for various real-world applications from manufacturing to healthcare, to community engagement and education.

The successful candidate will ideally have a background in human factors engineering, human-computer interaction, human-centered design, or a related field. Knowledge or background in cross-disciplinary collaboration and/or integrated knowledge translation research will be an asset.

The position is for two years with one year guaranteed full-time funding (1.0 FTE) and the second year guaranteed at 0.5 FTE. The successful candidate will be supported in preparing fellowship applications to supplement year 2 funding.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the design and development of a novel VR intervention for supporting health and wellbeing.
• Co-leading building and working with a team of trainees in computer sciences, engineering, and health sciences working with a pan-Canadian group of older adults.
• Coordinating communication, mentoring students, managing team dynamics, and adapting information system protocols according to data and feedback.
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data throughout the project period, analyse data to describe team cohesion and effectiveness of collaboration.
• Develop a framework to guide collaborative user-led co-design, which includes protocols for the evaluation of team effectiveness and cohesiveness.
• Liaising researchers and trainees in the CREATE in Immersive Technologies program (UBC CITech).
• Writing and submitting ethics applications as needed, journal manuscripts, presenting findings at academic conferences and participation in knowledge translation activities.
• Contribute to the development of grant applications and other funding opportunities.

Job Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (e.g. computer science, human factors engineering, systems design).
• Expertise executing quantitative research. Prior experience with qualitative and/or mixed-methods data analysis an asset.
• Demonstrated experience managing or coordinating teams or groups including trainees and non-academic partners/stakeholders. Experience evaluating the effectiveness of teams or partnerships an asset.
• Exceptional teamwork skills a must; experience working in interdisciplinary groups, with older adults, and/or designing technology for older adult users is an asset.
• Comfortable using programming languages and environments such as C#, Unity, GitHub, etc. as well as prior experience working with virtual reality environments; prior experience with head-mounted VR.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently with excellent problem solving and communication skills. The successful applicant will demonstrate an aptitude for collaboration with people outside of their own field, including cross-discipline and cross-sector knowledge translation and mobilization.
• Experience working with older adults is an asset.
• Strong writing skills, including experience with publishing academic journal articles and conference proceedings.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and statement of research interest, curriculum vitae, country of citizenship and date of availability, and a copy of your university transcripts to aging.inplace@ubc.ca. Review of applications will begin July 20 and will continue until the position is filled.

Knowledge mobilization and translation with Older Adults – Postdoctoral Fellow

Aging-in-Place Research Cluster, School of Health & Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia-Okanagan

Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada
Date Posted: June 30, 2022
Closing Date: Until filled
Start date: Sept 1, 2022 earliest

Description:

The University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow for an interdisciplinary project between a research team in Health, Computer Science, and Engineering.

The PDF will work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Dr. Jennifer Jakobi (NPI, Professor in Health and Exercise Sciences (HES)) and Dr. Jennifer Boger (Co-PI, adjunct professor in HES) to help lead a large team of researchers, computer science trainees, and older adults to co-design virtual reality (VR) technology for health and wellbeing. Two post-doctoral fellows will work together to effectively incorporate the needs and wants of many stakeholders and foster an intergenerational and interdisciplinary team to co-develop a framework for knowledge mobilization in healthy aging as well as contribute to co-production of an approach to a safe and usable end product (VR tool). The successful candidate’s research will focus on the exploration of the partnership and knowledge mobilization approach, health and functional influence of the VR tool, including establishing measurable outcomes, early-stage pilot testing, and subsequent evaluations.

The successful candidate will take a lead role in  applying frameworks for knowledge mobilization and co-production that meaningfully includes end users (old adults) as leaders within the design team.  They will take a lead role in producing high-quality peer-reviewed manuscripts, will engage in various forms of dissemination and, as time and funding permits, they will participate in generating additional grants and conference presentations.

This position will offer the successful applicant a challenging and rewarding environment. We are looking for an individual with experience in knowledge mobilization and translation, co-production, partnership, and integrated knowledge translation, and evaluation in the context of applied health research (e.g., geriatrics, clinical, rehabilitation, behavioural or health).  Knowledge or background in computer science or VR technology is an asset but not required.

The successful applicant will work with a high degree of autonomy and will need to be creative and innovative in approaching this project.  They will need to develop meaningful relationships with a range of individuals and organizations, and therefore need to have excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to effectively work with and lead teams.

The position is for two years with one year guaranteed full-time funding (1.0 FTE) and the second year guaranteed at 0.5 FTE. The successful candidate will be supported in preparing fellowship applications to supplement year 2 funding.

Key responsibilities will include:

Co-leading a team of trainees in computer sciences and health sciences working with a pan-Canadian group of older adults toward the common goal of the co-development of a virtual reality intervention for health and wellbeing. Contribute to development and evaluation of the team, as well as informing the design team of inclusive, meaningful and ethical approaches to co-production that will lead to the creation of a novel VR application that contributes to the health and well-being of older adults in some way (physical or mental) as determined by the team.

This includes coordinating communication efforts, mentoring students, establishing, maintaining and evaluating team dynamics and adapting communication systems according to data and feedback.

Other activities as required.

Job Qualifications:

• Completed a Ph.D. within the last 5 years in a relevant discipline (e.g. health and exercise sciences, clinical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, health psychology, gerontology, etc.).
• Evaluation research experience is required.
• Experience with interdisciplinary, quantitative and qualitative research. Experience conducting systematic reviews also an asset.
• Experience in knowledge mobilization, translation, and partnership theory and practice.
• Experience managing or coordinating teams or groups including trainees and non-academic partners/stakeholders. Experience evaluating the effectiveness of teams or partnerships an asset.
• Experience working with older adults is an asset.
• Advanced experience with data and reference management software as well as analysis software relevant to quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience with VR technology an asset but not critical to the role.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently with excellent problem solving and communication skills. The successful applicant will demonstrate an aptitude for communication and collaboration outside of their own field, with an emphasis on cross-discipline and cross-sector knowledge translation and mobilization.
• Strong writing skills, experience with publishing academic journal articles.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and statement of research interest, curriculum vitae, country of citizenship and date of availability, and a copy of your university transcripts to aging.inplace@ubc.ca. Review of applications will begin July 20 and will continue until the position is filled.