Postdoctoral Associate in PYD Program

Duke University School of Nursing

Established in 1931, Duke University School of Nursing is a national leader in preparing nurse clinicians, scholars, and innovators who are transforming healthcare through excellence in education, research, and clinical practice. With more than 1,500 students, we offer a comprehensive range of programs, including the Master of Nursing (MN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and PhD in Nursing. Our programs are designed to meet the evolving demands of today’s healthcare landscape, equipping graduates with rigorous training, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration to lead the future of nursing.

Our nursing program stands as a leader in healthcare education, earning #1 in the nation for Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs, #2 for Doctor of Nursing Practice, and #5 for Master’s programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. For over a decade, we’ve also been celebrated as a Best School for Men in Nursing by the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN)—11 years and counting! These accolades reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity in preparing the next generation of nursing professionals.

Be You.

The Schools of Nursing and Medicine are looking for a Postdoctoral Associate to join our Positive Youth Development (PYD) Research Team. In this role, you will conduct full-time independent and mentored research focused on adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic conditions and their family care partners. You’ll collaborate with faculty mentors and a dynamic interdisciplinary team to advance research that informs clinical practice and policy. This is an excellent opportunity to deepen your expertise, publish impactful work, and prepare for a full-time academic or research career.

Minimum Requirements

• PhD in Nursing, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or related field (or equivalent doctorate such as ScD, MD, DVM).
• Demonstrated clinical and research expertise in adolescent or young adult health, chronic illness, or survivorship care.
• Strong background in qualitative or mixed methods research.
• Experience with database development and entry-level statistical methods.
• Excellent writing skills and a record of scholarly dissemination in PYD.
• Commitment to equity-driven, patient-centered research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience mentoring graduate students or research assistants.
• Familiarity with electronic health record data and repository development.
• Prior involvement in grant writing and manuscript preparation.

Be Bold.

Essential Duties

• Conduct independent and mentored research in PYD for AYAs with chronic conditions and their families.
• Plan and execute research goals, publish dissertation work, and develop career award proposals.
• Organize and evaluate clinical programs delivering peer support and family partner programming (e.g., NC-PAL, ATLAS).
• Mentor graduate students and research assistants, fostering an inclusive lab culture.
• Collaborate on pilot studies, including consenting, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Lead and co-author manuscripts; present findings at scientific meetings.
• Assist with grant writing and development of evaluation protocols for peer support programs.
• Contribute to building a PYD study data repository for EHR data.

Professional Development

• Collaborate with biostatistics and other departments for database development and analysis.
• Deepen conceptual and methodological expertise in PYD and peer support.
• Develop skills for independent research funding and program planning.

Choose Duke.

Join a world-class research environment at Duke University, where innovation and collaboration drive excellence. Our Schools of Nursing and Medicine are nationally recognized for advancing health equity and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Job Code: 00003820 POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

Job Level: 00

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