Summary

The Thompson Lab in the Children’s Nutrition Research Center focuses on the design, implementation, and assessment of digital interventions promoting healthy diet and/or physical activity behaviors to children and adolescents. The goal is to motivate youth to adopt healthy behaviors in ways that can be sustained over time, ultimately reducing risk of both obesity and adult chronic disease. Postdoctoral Associates are trainees working in an apprenticeship role in preparation for a career as a scientific professional. Postdoctoral trainees are encouraged to engage in opportunities to advance their professional skills and scientific expertise, publish and present their findings, and develop an independent line of research. The ideal candidate works effectively both independently and as part of a team, is organized, and has a zest for accomplishing goals. Job tasks include assisting with intervention development; recruiting; corresponding and meeting with families; and collecting and analyzing data from human research volunteers, while contributing to a well-functioning translational nutrition research lab under established procedures and research protocols to assure personal, lab safety, and research volunteer safety. Trainees participate in the established CNRC Postdoctoral Training Program which involves forming a mentoring committee, monthly journal club, semi-annual research presentations, and weekly seminar series.

For more information about Dr. Thompson’s research please visit: https://www.bcm.edu/research/faculty-labs/debbe-thompson-lab

Job Duties

• Plans, directs and conducts specialized and advanced human research experiments and studies.
• Evaluates and analyzes data using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches.
• Establishes new research protocols and procedures.
• Summarizes research findings and publishes results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Directs a study.
• Supervises research staff and students.
• Participates in the Children’s Nutrition Research Center’s Postdoctoral Training Program (https://www.bcm.edu/research/research-centers/usda-ars-childrens-nutrition-research-center/education/postdoctoral-fellowship-in-childrens-nutrition)
• Attends academic seminars and professional development activities. 

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Prior research experience in a nutrition or health-related field.
• Prior experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection methods; qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods analyses.
• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.