Research Fellow, Gerontology

Department

38923 Wake Forest University Health Sciences - Gerontology

Status

Full time

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Hours Per Week

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information

full-time

Pay Range

$30\.70 - $46\.05

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated PhD-level postdoctoral fellow to join a collaborative, multi-site research team working on the

Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)

. The SOMMA study is a large, ongoing investigation focused on understanding the biological mechanisms underlying age-related changes in muscle function and mobility. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with rich, well-characterized datasets collected across multiple leading institutions, including Wake Forest University School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, and Translational Research Institute/AdventHealth.

Position Overview

The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to cutting-edge research examining the biological drivers of aging, with opportunities to focus on areas such as:

• Connections between cognitive and physical function
• Immune system aging as a contributor to health and function
• Linking aging biology to functional and disease outcomes

This role will primarily involve leveraging existing SOMMA datasets to conduct innovative analyses, develop manuscripts, and contribute to ongoing and future grant applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze complex clinical, imaging, and biomarker data from the SOMMA study
• Develop and lead independent research projects aligned with SOMMA objectives
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and present findings at scientific meetings
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary investigators across participating institutions
• Contribute to grant writing and development of new research initiatives

Qualifications

• PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., neuroscience, physiology, immunology, epidemiology, biomedical sciences, or related discipline)
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with experience in data analysis
• Demonstrated record of scientific writing and publication
• Interest in aging research, muscle biology, mobility, or related fields
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with large clinical or epidemiological datasets
• Background in bioinformatics, biostatistics, or computational biology
• Familiarity with aging-related research or longitudinal cohort studies

Why Join Us

• Access to a rich, multi-site dataset from a landmark aging study
• Mentorship from leading investigators in aging, mobility, and muscle research
• Collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment
• Opportunities for career development and advancement in academic research

Our Commitment To You

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits And More

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

Research Fellow