Open Postdoctoral position, faculty mentor VJ Periyakoil

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Aging and Serious Illness: The Stanford Center for Longevity and Healthy Aging, funded by the National Institutes of Health and founded and directed by Prof.Periyakoil, is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of longevity and healthy aging for all Americans. Our mission is to foster  translational research that bridges discoveries from bench to bedside and back, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care for all older adults, through collaboration, mentorship, and scientific excellence. 

Research investigation in population science is essential to ensure that discoveries from molecular medicine and clinical trials translate to routine practice and ultimately decrease the population-level burden of aging-related diseases and serious illness. The Stanford Center for Longevity and Healthy Aging Postdoctoral Fellowship Program focuses on population sciences research that addresses: (1) aging trajectories, risk screening, and early detection of cognitive decline and chronic conditions; (2) quality of life, quality of care, palliative care for individuals living with serious illness; and (3) population-conscious research and improved models of care delivery for all older adults.

Post-doctoral experience:

Postdoctoral fellows will pursue a two-year program of mentored research, coursework, and professional skills training that supports innovation and leverages the expertise of the faculty to prepare them for independent investigation in longevity and healthy aging research. 

Trainees work in the Periyakoil lab and are mentored to identify and complete a project over the course of two years. Fellows can focus on a variety of research methodologies including: (a) qualitative research and patient-reported outcomes; (b) observational research and comparative effectiveness studies; (c) intervention studies; (d) clinical informatics, mobile/electronic health; (e) machine learning/artificial intelligence; (f) health policy, health economics, and decision science; (g) and implementation science

Eligibility

The ideal candidate will have an MD/DO, PhD, or ScD. PhDs/ScDs may be in clinical fields (e.g., nursing, psychology), non-clinical fields (e.g., engineering, informatics), or social sciences (e.g., health policy, biostatistics, epidemiology, economics, sociology). 

Research Focus Areas

This prestigious fellowship offers a career-defining opportunity to shape the future of aging and serious illness research and establish yourself as a leader in this or an adjacent life sciences field. Fellows will engage in research related to one or more of the following areas:

• Aging Trajectories & Early Detection: Risk screening, early detection of cognitive impairment, dementia, and age-related chronic conditions using AI/ML and digital biomarkers
• Serious Illness Care: Palliative care approaches, symptom management, advance care planning, and end-of-life care quality for older adults
• Quality of Life: Long-term outcomes, functional status, and quality of care for older adults living with chronic and serious illnesses
• Implementation Science: Translation of evidence-based interventions into clinical practice and health systems
• Digital Health Innovation: Virtual reality, wearables, telemedicine, and AI-driven tools for aging populations
• Health Services Research: Care transitions, and health system redesign for aging populations

Why Join Our Fellowship?

World-Class Mentorship:

• Receive primary mentoring from Dr. Periyakoil
• Access to a large network of research mentors across Stanford Medicine, School of Engineering, and affiliated institutions
• Mentoring team structure to provide multi-dimensional guidance
• Regular one-on-one meetings and research advisory support

Professional Development:

• Comprehensive training in grant writing with support for career development awards (K99/R00, K23, K08, or equivalent)
• Manuscript development and publication support in high-impact journals
• Conference presentation opportunities with funding for one meeting per year
• Leadership skills training and career planning workshops
• Networking with geriatrics and palliative care research leaders nationally

Current Program Structure 

Year 1:

• Development of independent research project or leading existing project of interest with mentor guidance
• Participation in seminars, journal clubs, and works-in-progress sessions
• Begin manuscript preparation and conference abstracts
• Professional development workshops

Year 2:

• Focus on independent research project execution
• Manuscript preparation and submission
• Career development award application preparation (K-series or equivalent)
• Job market preparation and career planning

Research Resources:

• Access to Stanford's exceptional research infrastructure including large clinical datasets, electronic health records, and biobanks
• State-of-the-art facilities including AI/ML computing resources, virtual reality labs, and digital health platforms
• Collaborative opportunities with NIH-funded centers and initiatives
• Apply for pilot funding opportunities through the Stanford pilot grants program. 

Career Advancement:

• Our team has a strong track record of past clinical and research fellows securing faculty positions at top-tier academic institutions
• Support for transition to independence through career development award applications
• Preparation for various career paths in academia, health systems, policy, or industry

Competitive Support Package:

• Two-year stipend following Stanford postdoctoral fellowship scales. The expected base pay for this position is the Stanford University required minimum for all postdoctoral scholars appointed through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
• Travel allowance for one annual conference attendance (AGS, AAHPM, or other relevant meetings)
• Comprehensive benefits as provided by the Stanford post-doctoral program (https://postdocs.stanford.edu/).