Dementia Epidemiology Postdoctoral Scholar Position

Location: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Deborah Barnes, PhD, MPH

Dates: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2022

Dr. Deborah Barnes has received funding from the California Department of Public Health to identify key modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in California. There are currently an estimated 670,000 Californians living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, which represents approximately 18% (>1 in 6) of adults age 65 years or older. It is expected that this number will nearly double to 1.2 million by 2030 and that it will nearly triple among Asian and Latino adults. Dr. Barnes and Dr. Kristine Yaffe have previously estimated that up to one in three cases of Alzheimer’s disease could potentially be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, depression, low education, diabetes, mid-life obesity, and mid-life hypertension (Barnes and Yaffe, 2011). The primary goal of this postdoctoral fellowship is to work with Dr. Barnes and Dr. Yaffe to provide the first-ever estimates of the key modifiable Alzheimer’s disease risk factors for the state of California, including estimates for specific sub-populations of interest such as women and communities of color. These estimates will be critical for developing effective public health messaging related to Alzheimer’s risk reduction and will directly support the California State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Governor Newsom's recently established California Alzheimer's Task Force, both of which highlight the importance of risk reduction as a strategy for addressing the anticipated statewide rise in Alzheimer's prevalence. In addition to conducting this research, fellows will participate in UCSF’s Center for Population Brain Health and Training for Research on Aging and Chronic Disease T32 programs.

Requirements: Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, neuroscience, or related quantitative health research area. Research experience in behavioral risk factors, health disparities, and/or cognitive aging is preferred. 

Application process: Please send a cover letter, CV, one-page research statement, and two letters of recommendation by email to [email protected] by March 1, 2020