General Summary:
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will focus on advancing research related to the employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as part of the Institute for Community Inclusion’s (ICI) Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program. This 12-month, 30 hours/week (or 0.75FTE) grant-funded hybrid fellowship is designed to prepare early-career scholars to become leaders in disability employment research, specifically within the IDD field in the United States, with an approximate start date in January 2026.
The Fellow will participate in formal instruction on IDD employment research topics and methods and will be assigned an experienced ICI researcher to provide mentorship and guidance alongside other supervisory support. The Fellow will actively contribute to collaborative research opportunities through a Research Practicum involving assigned ICI projects and will develop and implement an independent research project.
As part of the fellowship, the Fellow will engage with community organizations serving individuals with IDD and receive training in grant writing, scholarly writing and publishing, professional presentations, and knowledge translation strategies, with specific targets established to track progress. The Fellow is expected to demonstrate the potential to contribute meaningfully to disability employment scholarship, collaborative team research, knowledge translation, and systems change. Additionally, the Fellow will participate in program evaluation and reporting activities.
Additionally, the Fellow will participate in evaluation and reporting activities related to the ARRT program, providing feedback as a participant to help improve the program.
Examples of Duties:
• At the start of the fellowship, participate in a three-day orientation and training event at the university campus in Boston (travel and per diem covered by the program).
• Work with an experienced ICI research mentor and ARRT supervisory team throughout the fellowship.
• Develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with the mentor and supervisory team to guide the fellowship experience and track progress and milestones.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the mentor and quarterly meetings with the supervisory team to review progress and milestones.
• Participate in formal instruction on IDD employment research topics and methods.
• Contribute to collaborative research through a Research Practicum involving assigned ICI projects.
• Design and conduct an independent research project (a research stipend of $2,500 will be provided).
• Present the independent research project proposal and results to the ARRT Advisory Board.
• Engage meaningfully with community organizations serving individuals with IDD as part of the independent research project.
• Participate in hands-on grant writing with mentorship and workshops.
• Collaborate with cohort peers to develop and submit a grant proposal, with guidance from ICI research mentor and ARRT supervisory team.
• Lead at least one peer-reviewed manuscript and contribute to at least one additional manuscript.
• Present research at a national conference (a travel stipend of $1,500 will be provided).
• Receive guidance on creating accessible research products, including plain language formats, and practice presentations (including presenting to the ARRT Advisory Board).
• Engage with professional networks and national organizations in the disability and IDD fields.
• Meet progress targets established by the program.
• Contribute to program evaluation and reporting activities, including providing feedback as a program participant.
Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for this fellowship:
• Educational Background: Must hold a doctoral degree (or equivalent terminal degree) in a relevant field such as sociology, public policy, disability studies, social work, rehabilitation counseling, education, public health, or a related social science or policy discipline. The degree must be completed by the time of appointment.
• Residency and Eligibility: Per the sponsor agency’s requirements, candidates must be U.S. citizen or legal permanent residents and must be eligible to work in the United States for any employer for the duration of the fellowship.
• Research Experience: Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, with a strong interest in or experience related to disability research, especially in the area of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Preference will be given to candidates with experience in employment-focused research. Proficiency with research software/tools is preferred.
• Commitment to Inclusion: Demonstrated commitment to advancing the welfare, employment, and social inclusion of individuals with disabilities or other underrepresented populations. Professional or volunteer experience in disability inclusion is preferred.
• Communication Skills: Strong written communication and analytical skills are required. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively across a range of audiences and formats (e.g., email, newsletters, websites, social media, presentations), using accessible and appropriate methods suited to the context and audience.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Participation Requirements: Fellows must commit to participating in all program activities and reporting requirements. This includes engaging in fellowship activities at 0.75 FTE (approximately 30 hours per week) for the full 12-month duration. Participation in this hybrid program involves both virtual and in-person components at the university campus in Boston, MA. To the extent possible, Fellows are expected to work during Eastern Time (U.S.) business hours to align with fellowship and related scheduled activities.
Application Instructions:
Please apply online with your 1) resume, 2) cover letter, 3) recent writing sample (such as draft/published research article, conference/workshop paper, research proposal etc.), and 4) list of three references.
Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience
This is a non-union exempt position.
All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.
UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.