Academic
Job Category
Faculty Non Bargaining
Job Title
Neurorehabilitation Post-doctoral Fellow
Department
Pollock Laboratory | Department of Physical Therapy | Faculty of Medicine (Courtney Pollock)
Posting End Date
August 14, 2025
Note:Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
Aug 31, 2027
The expected salary for this position is $60,000 CAD per annum, plus benefits. The expected term for this position is 2-years. The candidate would be expected to apply to local postdoctoral awards (e.g., Michael Smith Health BC) and if successful, would receive additional top-up funding that would increase the salary.
Applicants are requested to submit a cover letter outlining their research interests and expertise, an up-to-date CV (including a list of publications), and contact information for three references to Chihya Hung (Chihya.Hung@ubc.ca). Review of applications will begin upon receipt and will continue until the position is filled. Start date is negotiable but would ideally be September 1st, 2025.
As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
Contract Type: Full Time
Duration: 2-year term
Post for: UBC Vancouver
Enquiry / Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed until filled
Desired Start Date: Monday, September 1, 2025 or earlier
The Rehabilitation Research Program (rehabresearchprogram.com) at the Centre for Aging SMART at Vancouver Coastal Health invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE) Postdoctoral Fellow in the field of neurorehabilitation with a focus on stroke, as well as traumatic brain injury. The position is a joint appointment between the University of British Columbia and the Centre for Aging SMART at Vancouver Coastal Health. The candidate will lead clinical research projects to develop and test rehabilitation interventions that improve the lives of people living with stroke and traumatic brain injury. For example, the applicant will have the opportunity to lead projects investigating the effectiveness of interventions for people with stroke or traumatic brain injury (e.g., RCTs), evaluating the implementation and feasibility of using technology in clinical practice, understanding the mechanisms of recovery and changes in neurophysiology after novel rehabilitation intervention.
The position is located at the Rehabilitation Research Program, GF Strong Rehab Centre (4255 Laurel Street, Vancouver) which is a vibrant and supportive research centre with over 10 interdisciplinary faculty and 50 trainees. The candidate will join the research programs of Dr. Courtney Pollock and Dr. Julia Schmidt. Dr. Pollock has a background in physical therapy and leads a program in mobility and balance rehabilitation. Dr. Schmidt has a background in occupational therapy and leads a program in patient-oriented research in brain injury. Their current lab projects examine: effect of a split-belt treadmill exercise program on walking function and brain plasticity measured by near infrared spectroscopy after stroke; effect of a virtual rehabilitation program on self-care after traumatic brain injury; use of wearable sensors to inform neurorehabilitation practice; and implementation trials to increase the uptake of technology in clinical rehabilitation. GF Strong Rehab Centre is situated in Vancouver and is the largest rehabilitation centre in the province of British Columbia, with inpatient and outpatient programs for acquired brain injuries (stroke and traumatic brain injury). Vancouver is a city renowned for its beauty, mild climate, multiculturalism and recognition as a friendly, welcoming place.
Key responsibilities
- Develop, implement and evaluate studies to improve the recovery after acquired brain injuries in collaboration with the supervisors
- Apply clinical assessments and treatments, neurophysiological techniques and statistical techniques in neurorehabilitation studies
- Lead the development and application for clinical research ethics review
- Participating in and leading components of randomized controlled trials in acquired brain injury
- Work with clinicians and people with lived experience as research team members
- Recruit patient participants
- Publish research in high impact, peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international meetings
- Mentor junior trainees (e.g., undergraduate and graduate students)
Qualifications
- A PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., Rehabilitation Science, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology, Neuroscience) with a thesis related to neurological rehabilitation
- A strong track record of publishing peer-reviewed publications for their stage of career
- Experience in performing, analyzing and interpreting common stroke and/or TBI rehabilitation assessments and treatments
- Experience in analyzing clinical data with statistical methods (e.g., R, SPSS)
- Experience in neurophysiological techniques (e.g., transcutaneous magnetic stimulation, near infrared spectroscopy, evoked potentials, electromyography) would be an asset
- Experience in utilizing programming/coding such as Python or Matlab would be an asset
- A clinical background (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine) would be an asset
- Excellent communication skills, including strong writing, research, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience working with people with lived experience of neurological injury
- Able to work well within a larger team-based environment
