Job Summary

Applications are invited for position of Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Dr. Bridgette Kelleher. Dr. Kelleher is an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, Principal Investigator of the Neurodevelopmental Family Lab, and Director elect of the Purdue Autism Research Center. Dr. Kelleher’s research uses telehealth-based methods to assess early development of children at risk for a variety of health outcomes, including autism. The candidate’s primary role will be to support Dr. Kelleher’s PANDABox project (Parent Assisted NeuroDevelopmental Assessment). PANDABox is a NIH-funded, open science protocol for remotely collecting laboratory-grade data from children at risk for atypical development via telehealth. Currently, Dr. Kelleher’s team is using PANDABox to longitudinally track early development of children with neurogenetic syndromes using a variety of methods, including clinical, behavioral, and spectral techniques (e.g. heart rate defined sustained attention, EEG). Since the start of this project, the PANDABox user base has grown substantially, and the protocol is now being used by a variety of teams at Purdue and beyond, both to map early developmental phenotypes and as an outcome measure for treatment.

Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will assume a major leadership role for a new NIH-funded study related to PANDABox. This new project aims to develop a training and dissemination protocol for PANDABox, which will enable us to more effectively share protocols and calibrate administrations across collaborating sites. This project will include creating a web-based training community portal and data processing software program. The postdoctoral scholar will be an expert in clinical assessment, developmental science, and/or implementation science who will lead the design and validation of these components (web and software programming will be completed by other team members). The scholar will also support supervision of PANDABox assessments and lead data dissemination. The candidate will also have the opportunity to disseminate data from related projects, including the original longitudinal PANDABox studies and related projects on early development in neurogenetic groups. The candidate will manage execution of ongoing funded research projects with support from PIs, including monitoring execution of deliverables, writing progress reports, and supervising staff. The candidate will also lead data dissemination efforts, including analyzing data and writing manuscripts. 

As part of their job duties, the candidate will participate in a variety of professional development activities, including activities with the Purdue Autism Research Center, leading publications and presentations, and participating in individual and group mentorship activities.  

Qualifications

Ph.D. in psychological sciences, human development, speech and/or language, neuroscience, or a closely related field

Preferred: work or applied experience with children and families; personal or professional experience with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders

• Commitment to supporting an inclusive and diverse laboratory environment
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and professionalism as a collegial team member
• Strong organizational and time management skills with emphasis on accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong experience with Microsoft Excel and Word
• Strong experience with data management and analysis (experience with longitudinal analyses preferred but not required), including independence with use of SAS, SPSS, and/or R software
• Ability to efficiently multi task and meet deadlines
• Skill in taking initiative, assuming responsibility and handling confidential information with discretion
• Valid US or Canadian driver’s license

Additional Information

The position is 40 hours per week with a duration of two years, contingent upon successful performance in the first year. Longer-term employment is possible pending additional funding. Application review begins immediately, with start date as early as August 1, 2021. Salary will follow the guidelines of the NIH grant. Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position. 

The candidate will join Dr. Kelleher’s Neurodevelopmental Family Lab. This team includes over 30 members, including postdocs, graduate students, undergraduates, and staff who work together to facilitate research that optimizes outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families. Diversity and inclusion are central to our lab’s mission, and we encourage applications from candidates who will prioritize facilitating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community. Additional information about the NDFL is available at nddfamilylab.weebly.com.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Benefits Eligibility

FLSA Status

Exempt