Sleep and Circadian Health Research Program

College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware

The Sleep and Circadian Health Research Program housed in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to conduct research in the area of sleep and circadian influences on cardiometabolic health.

Working closely with the program PI, Dr. Freda Patterson (Associate Dean and Professor) and faculty from other Departments across the College including Kinesiology and Applied Physiology and the School of Nursing, the Fellow will have the opportunity (based on interest and training goals) to support ongoing studies in various stages of recruitment and data analysis:

• Predicting Sleep, Smoking and Lung Health Disparities in at-risk Black African American Adults
• Using Sleep Health to Optimize Smoking Cessation Treatment Response in HIV-Positive Adults
• Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Mid-Life Adults: Determining the Role of Chrono-behaviors
• Day-to-day associations between sleep and stress in the family context
• Artificial Intelligence sleep chatbot in emerging adults with metabolic syndrome comorbidities: a feasibility study

Candidates should have earned a PhD in kinesiology, nursing science, health behavior science, or another related area and have a track-record of conducting research in sleep and circadian health and cardiometabolic disease. Preference will be given to applicants who use biobehavioral paradigms to guide their work and have experience in collecting and analyzing multiple streams of data (e.g., accelerometry, environmental sensors (i.e., light), electronic dietary assessment, ecological momentary assessment).

The primary responsibility of the Postdoctoral Fellow will be to lead the development and dissemination of scientific products (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations) using study data and to assist with grant writing. There will also be opportunities for co-authorship with members of the research team, development of ancillary research projects, student mentorship and supervision, and guest teaching within the College of Health Sciences. The Fellow will be primarily mentored by Dr. Patterson.

This is a one-year appointment renewable up to two years, pending continued funding, availability of work, and satisfactory job performance. Fellows will be expected to apply for independent funding to gain grant development experience and enrich research of personal interest.

Required Qualifications:

1. A doctoral degree conferred before the start of employment

2. Quantitative data analysis skills

3. Two or more first authored, peer-reviewed scientific publications (published or in press)

4. Strong communication, collaboration, and time management skills

5. The desire to develop expertise and scholarship in elucidating the role of sleep and circadian health on cardiometabolic disease pathophysiology