New Opportunity for Post-Doctoral Researchers at ICI

ICI has recently launched a five-year project to identify and train 1-2 post-doctoral researchers each year, offering a unique opportunity rich in research training and experience that is focused on community living and participation of persons with disabilities. Known as Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Community Living and Participation, the project is funded through a five-year, $750,000 grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), in the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ICI will augment these funds with a cost match of 50% of the participants' salary. AART is led by Co-Principal Investigators Brian Abery, Amy Hewitt, and Renáta Tichá.

The project builds on ICI's strong record of research, in the designated areas of the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC-CL), Research and Training Center on Home and Community Based Outcome Measurement (RTC-OM), and Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) program. Together, these particular disciplines offer post-doc participants the opportunity to join active interdisciplinary research teams that are nationally known for their productivity and impact on the state-of-knowledge and state-of-practice in community living and participation for people with disabilities. Participants will be selected through a competitive process by a committee composed of ICI staff."As states, counties, and providers move toward implementation of the new HCBS Settings Rule over the next several years, there will be a tremendous need for additional knowledge on how to improve the community outcomes of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities," says Abery. "Supporting the development of new researchers through mentoring them over an extended period, and providing them with opportunities to actively take part in ICI projects, will ensure that the next generation of researchers has the skills and motivation to push the field forward."Participants will be matched with research mentors with shared topical and methods interests to guide their learning experience. Training opportunities will include seminars, coursework, and hands-on training in a wide range of topics relevant to future career development, including observational and survey research methods and programs, latest approaches to primary and secondary data analysis, measurement development, program evaluation, and policy analysis. Participants will be supported to write research grants, academic journal articles, and targeted translational materials to non-technical audiences and to identify how their research will influence future policy and practice.

For further information on this opportunity, or to apply, please contact Abery or Tichá.