POSITION CLOSED
Translational Research for Injury Prevention Laboratory
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mentor: Dr. Despina Stavrinos, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham (dstavrin@uab.edu)
Position Summary:
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to lead longitudinal research studies in learning-to-drive among adolescent drivers, returning-to-drive after mild traumatic brain injury among adolescent drivers, and other transportation safety projects in the Translational Research for Injury Prevention Laboratory (TRIP Lab) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology.
About the Lab:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Translational Research for Injury Prevention Laboratory (UAB TRIP Lab) strives to help the nation achieve a significant reduction in transportation-related deaths, injuries, and resulting disabilities, particularly in the southeastern United States. We are committed to gaining a better understanding of the psychological aspects of driving behavior through multidisciplinary research and translating those findings to the practice of injury prevention and control. The TRIP Lab, established in 2009, conducts studies using state-of-the-art driving simulation and integrated eye tracking technology to understand driving behavior in at-risk populations including teen drivers, drivers who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, and young drivers with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The TRIP Lab provides rich research training opportunities for scholars – students and professionals – drawn to the intersection of the transportation, behavioral, and cognitive research fields.
Current projects focus on:
i. Understanding the independent and joint effects of age and experience on driving attention development among adolescents
ii. Identifying when it is safe to return to driving for adolescents sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury
iii. Examining the underlying neural mechanisms of driving among young individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
iv. Developing protocols to understand takeover of autonomous (self-driving) vehicles
More information about the laboratory can be found at www.triplaboratory.com.
Position Description:
The UAB TRIP Lab is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to manage longitudinal research studies funded by NIH seeking to understanding learning-to-drive among adolescent drivers, returning-to-drive after concussion among adolescent drivers, and other transportation safety projects. The postdoc will work under the supervision of Dr. Despina Stavrinos and will lead a research team of graduate and undergraduate researchers to ensure these projects are conducted with the highest scientific and ethical rigor. The position offers a unique postdoctoral training experience and publishing opportunities within multi-department and multi-institution grant-funded projects. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop new technical skills, strengthen their portfolio of peer-reviewed publications, gain interdisciplinary experience, develop leadership, and gain expertise in co-authoring grant proposals.
The position is initially for two years, though some of the funding lines could support additional years. The anticipated start date will be 2021, with some flexibility for the availability of the applicant.
Compensation and benefits:
Salary will be negotiated, with the typical salary being approximately $55,000/year. Full medical/dental/vision benefits are provided. In addition, the fellow will be given a budget for travel and discretionary funds.
The postdoc will have the opportunity to pursue their own projects and apply for extramural training or project funding. They will also have the opportunity to lead manuscripts. Therefore, this position may particularly benefit individuals who desire to establish an independent research career.
Minimum Requirements:
Applicants should have a doctorate in psychology, public health, human factors, cognitive science, or a related field. They should have completed strong, compelling PhD research in one (or more) of these areas.
The candidate must have experience conducting human research studies, with longitudinal data collection expertise preferred. As our studies currently involve driving simulation and eye tracking, the candidate should have an interest in learning about these techniques, though previous experience is not required.
Other Requirements:
Applicants should be comfortable interacting with patient populations on the phone and in-person, as well as working with and leading scientific teams. The applicant should have strong organization and communication skills, fluency in English, as well as strong computational and analytical skills, especially in longitudinal data analyses. The ideal postdoc will also be a curious scientific thinker, a quick learner, and highly motivated to conduct transportation safety research.
To Apply:
Questions about the position should be addressed to Dr. Despina Stavrinos: dstavrin@uab.edu.
To submit an application for the position, please submit a CV and a statement of interest to dstavrin@uab.edu.
