Postdoctoral Scholar, Dementia-Inclusive Environments

Description

Area: Dementia-Inclusive Environments

Duration: 1 year with the possibility of extension

Start Date: January 4, 2027

Salary: $75,000 CAD per year, plus University of Calgary Plan C health benefits

The Centre on Aging in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Dementia-Inclusive Environments.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team evaluating the use and impact of Canada's first dementia-inclusive park, set to open in Calgary in Fall 2026. The Postdoctoral Scholar will be based at the Centre on Aging on the University of Calgary's Foothills Campus and will work closely with Centre researchers and community partners from Parks Foundation Calgary. The successful candidate will be co-supervised by Dr. Zahra Goodarzi (Associate Scientific Director) and Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc (Scientific Director) of the Centre on Aging.

Job Description:

The Postdoctoral Scholar will lead the development and implementation of a research project evaluating the use and impact of Canada's first dementia-inclusive park, an initiative led by Parks Foundation Calgary. Working closely with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, community partners, people living with dementia and their care partners, the successful candidate will help design and conduct a rigorous evaluation that advances knowledge of dementia-inclusive environments, healthy aging, and community participation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Co-developing a research and evaluation plan in collaboration with academic and community partners
• Designing and conducting qualitative research focused on the experiences and perspectives of park users and other key stakeholders
• Obtaining and maintaining research ethics approval
• Recruiting and engaging research participants, including people living with dementia, care partners, community members, and other stakeholders
• Collecting and analyzing qualitative data using methods such as interviews, focus groups, field observations, and other community-engaged approaches
• Managing project activities, including research coordination, data management, and knowledge translation
• Collaborating with Parks Foundation Calgary and other community partners to ensure the research is relevant, meaningful, and responsive to stakeholder priorities
• Preparing reports, manuscripts, conference presentations, and other scholarly and community-facing knowledge translation products
• Supporting the training and mentorship of student research assistants, as applicable
  
  

Qualifications:

• A PhD completed within the past five years in gerontology, public health, health sciences, sociology, psychology, nursing, social work, urban planning, human geography, recreation and leisure studies, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated experience conducting qualitative research, including study design, data collection, and data analysis
• Knowledge of community-engaged, participatory, or stakeholder-informed research approaches
• Experience working with older adults and/or people living with cognitive impairment, dementia, or other age-related conditions
• A strong record of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational, project management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
  
  

The following would be considered assets:

• Experience conducting research in community-based, environmental, or aging-related settings
• Knowledge of evaluation frameworks and methods
• Knowledge of dementia-friendly or dementia-inclusive design principles
• Experience working with municipal, nonprofit, or community-based partners
• Experience preparing knowledge translation products for academic and non-academic audiences
  
  

Application Details:

Applications should be submitted through the University of Calgary Careers Portal. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

In a single file, please include the following application documents:

• A cover letter describing your research interests, qualifications, and career goal
• A current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Contact information for at least two references familiar with your research and academic experience
  
  

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website.

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Postdoc Careers website.

About The University Of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders' in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).