Disability Research Fellowship Program

The Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL) is pleased to announce an opening in our 2021-2022 postdoctoral program in disability policy research. We are seeking qualified candidates who are interested in producing high-quality research about people with disabilities to influence policies, opportunities, and outcomes for this community. The goal of this fellowship is to provide a highly personalized 18-month research training experience for developing scholars with disabilities who hold doctorate-level or similar advanced degrees and are committed to understanding and improving health policies and services for people with disabilities. All fellows are eligible for extensive accommodations and ongoing support by advisers with experience in disability research.

Salary, Benefits, and Disability Accommodation

This postdoctoral training program recognizes and accommodates the financial and vocational needs of scholars with disabilities. Each fellow will be hired as a research associate at the Washington State University Department of Health Policy and Administration, with an annual salary of $51,000, along with conference travel funds, health insurance coverage, and retirement benefits. All fellows are eligible for a tuition waiver for elective graduate courses. Fellows with significant disability support needs will also receive up to 40 hours of workplace personal assistance per week, plus supplemental funds for moving expenses, adaptive technologies, and conference travel accommodations.

Position Responsibilities

• Attend graduate seminars to supplement and advance knowledge in health policy research

• Participate in existing CHRIL research, including research design, statistical analysis, and writing.

• Lead a research project and develop a journal manuscript, (toward end of fellowship)

• Attend a grant-writing workshop

• Write at least one grant proposal

• Attend professional conferences related to health policy and/or disability research

• Co-author research abstracts and present work at conferences

• Develop a five-year research plan and academic CV

• Publish results in peer-reviewed, scientific journals

• Work independently and as part of the CHRIL team of researchers

The 2021-2022 fellowship will complement and extend the work of the Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL), a multisite Disability & Rehabilitation Research Project funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The main fellowship site is Washington State University’s health sciences campus in Spokane Washington. During the latter part of their training period, fellows may choose to spend 3-6 months at one or more CHRIL affiliate sites, including Washington, DC (American Association on Health and Disability), Lawrence, KS (Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies), or Houston, TX (Independent Living Research Utilization). CHRIL research projects include assessments of outcomes for consumers with disabilities, the training needs of Centers for Independent Living, trends in health coverage, access, and cost, and the impacts of health reform on workplace participation and/or benefit enrollment.

Position Qualifications

Required qualifications include a completed doctoral degree (or similar advanced degree) within the past five years, a strong interest in a future research career, critical thinking, communication skills, interest in disability policy research, and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. Preferred qualifications include experience with to research design and a personal commitment to disability research and/or prior advocacy in this area.

Required Materials

Include a cover letter, a CV or resume, a 1-2 page personal statement about prior personal and professional experience with disability, a 1-page research statement, and a brief writing sample (research-oriented if possible) in your application. Assistance in preparing or submitting these materials is available if needed. Review of applications will begin on July 15, 2021, and start dates are flexible. WSU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request a disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521(v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: 1-800-833-6384 (v); TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388 (TDD), 509-335-1259 (f).