The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at Drexel University is seeking to appoint a Post Doctoral Research Fellow. The successful candidate will work primarily on a CDMRP Dept of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program funded research project “Improving Cardiometabolic Health in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury Using Home-Based Interactive Virtual Gaming”.  The position provides salary and benefits consistent with NIH postdoctoral fellowship guidelines.

Research Program
Physical/physiological changes following spinal cord injury (SCI) and barriers to physical activity place individuals with SCI at increased risk for chronic diseases exacerbated by physical inactivity and deconditioning. Physical activity, and exercise as a subset of physical activity, can ameliorate these risks; however, individuals with SCI rank among the lowest on the physical activity and physical fitness spectrums. An urgent need therefore exists to address traditional barriers to exercise and facilitate meaningful exercise experiences for individuals with SCI. Although the potential utility of home-based virtual reality (VR) gaming in SCI has been acknowledged, there has yet to be a platform informed specifically by the needs and interests of individuals with SCI. Further, while laboratory-based studies have supported the exercise potency for VR gaming in SCI, a home-based platform has yet to be developed. The current project seeks to address these major gaps in the field by refining and testing an interactive, immersive VR exercise platform (VR-Move) informed by the physical needs, preferences, and expertise of end users (i.e., Lived Experience Consultants - individuals with SCI) and SCI?specific experts, who can address crucial barriers to SCI exercise engagement, and who can implement VR interventions within individuals’ homes as a resource for promoting physical activity.

Standard Duties and Responsibilities

To assist in the development of aerobic capacity testing protocols (VO2max) and assessment of cardiometabolic risk factors (blood glucose, lipid profiles, central adiposity) in individuals with SCI. Assist as needed in the deployment of virtual reality gaming for a 12-week home-based intervention. 

Along with laboratory testing, other duties and responsibilities will include participant recruitment and enrollment, lab preparation and breakdown, data collection, data processing, assist with data analysis, attend weekly team meetings, assist with interim reports and dissemination of research findings, contribute to other components of project as needed.

Additional Tasks and Activities

• Conduct a specified program of research and scholarship.
  • Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required
  • Support, the development of proposals for research funding.
  • Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which you are engaged.
  • Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities.
  • Take responsibility, as requested, for support of graduate research students associated with the research group.
  • Mentor and assist, as appropriate and as directed, research undergraduate and graduate students
  • Carry out administrative and management work associated with the program of research.
  • Communicate results, data interpretation and reports to the research team and relevant members of the multidisciplinary teams.

Funding Information
The project is funded by Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Clinical Translation Research Award.

Qualifications
The appointee must have a PhD in Rehabilitation Science, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Biological Science or other closely related fields.
• Knowledge in Exercise Physiology and/or Clinical Exercise Physiology research (Desirable)
• Experience measuring and analyzing cardiorespiratory, metabolic and/or vascular responses during exercise in healthy and/or clinical populations (Desirable)

Skills & Competencies (Essential)
• Proficient in scientific writing and spoken (in English) skills.
• Good interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, take initiative and meet deadlines.
• Flexible, committed and problem-solving attitude.
• Effective planning and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex tasks.