The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences PharmD Interprofessional Research Fellowship
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences seeks an outstanding postdoctoral fellow to work on primary and secondary research projects with an interprofessional team focusing on sleep medicine. This fellowship is being offered in partnership with the Pasha Snoring and Sinus Center. Proposed research activities will involve one or more of the following:
- Pilot research exploring the efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative (CAM) sleep aids.
- Original research exploring the effects of CAM sleep aids on human metabolism.
- Original/secondary research exploring drug/nutrient interactions of CAM sleep aids.
- Pilot research exploring the optimal dosing and timing of CAM sleep aids.
- Comprehensive reviews/meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of CAM sleep aids such as 5-HTP and GABA.
Individuals from historically underrepresented groups with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Candidates should be excited about working in a premier sleep medicine practice setting and collaborating with a diverse group of healthcare practitioners including physicians, physician assistants, audiologists, therapists, and registered dietitian nutritionists. Candidates should be dedicated to pioneering research in this exciting area which is garnering much interest and may transform the practice of sleep medicine.
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences prides itself as the top-ranking producer of Black and African American pharmacists in Texas and the third-highest producer of Black and African American pharmacists in the United States. The College of Pharmacy of Health Sciences also fosters an atmosphere of interprofessional education offering education programs in 10 health-related professions.
Training and mentoring will be under an interprofessional team including Dr. Rasa Pasha and Dr. Ellis Morrow. The fellow will also work with various other professionals and paraprofessionals in the sleep medicine setting.
The fellowship program is designed to:
- Educate the fellow on research principles and applications and their use in designing sleep medicine-based research.
- Providing experience in designing research studies to examine over-the-counter complementary and alternative (CAM) sleep aids for the treatment of insomnia.
- Provide training for the fellow to practice sleep medicine research in various settings including academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, or managed care agencies.
- Produce high-quality manuscripts for publication in high-impact journals.
The research fellow will work in an interprofessional team-based environment with the PIs, other project faculty/practitioners, and the various sleep study center employees to achieve project aims, goals, and objectives. The fellow will focus on coordinating research products from concept to completion. Planned research activities include research question development, literature review to develop a hypothesis, development of research proposals, data collection, and management, coding, designing statistical analysis plans, data analysis, project management, development of methods for disseminating outcomes including presentations, reports, and manuscripts. One of the primary goals is for the fellow to lead the preparation of at least 2 original manuscripts as the first author and contribute to additional manuscripts in the capacity of co-author. The fellow will have opportunities to interact with internal experts in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The results of the fellow’s research activities will inform practitioners in implementing evidence-based protocols for the management of sleep disturbances using CAM supplements.
The fellow position is anticipated to be one year in duration. There is a potential for two fellows. This position is contingent on funding availability, thus any opportunities for extension beyond one year will be determined based on the receipt of additional grant funding. All applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
The preferred starting date is July 1, 2022. It is expected that the fellow will work in person at Texas Southern University and Pasha Allergy Sinus in Houston Texas. Work expectations will reflect the current state of the pandemic at that time.
Application Information
Qualifications
- Graduate of TSU college of pharmacy and Health Sciences with a PharmD degree.
- Licensed Pharmacist in the State of Texas by October 1, 2022.
Required education, experience, and skills
Applicants must have a Pharm D. degree. Some experience with research during their professional program is preferred. Applicants must be dependable, able to work independently, have outstanding written and oral communication skills, and be able to work as part of a collaborative team.
Application Timeline
| Application Due | Decision Notification | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| April 14 th, 2022 | May 28 th, 2022 | July 1 st, 2022 |
Application Instructions
Complete the following steps to apply:
- Complete the online application by visiting: Interprofessional Fellowship Application
- Complete the recommendation request section
Additional required items:
- Submit a one-to-two-page personal statement that includes a description of your career goals, and your progress toward your goals. Include a brief description of your research interest and how they relate to your career goals.
- Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university that you have attended.
- Submit two letters of recommendation. The letters should come from the individuals that you identified in the recommendation request section. Please submit the contact information for each letter writer.
Application review
All applications will be reviewed by the research mentors. The finalist will be notified and scheduled for an interview during the week of April 25–29, 2022.
Acceptance
Notification of selection will be delivered via mail and email on April 28 th, 2022. Once the selected applicant receives a notification of selection, they must confirm and accept within 48 hours.
Fellowship Requirements
Pasha Snoring and Sinus Sleep Medicine Center
A significant allocation of the resident’s time is spent at locations of Pasha and Snoring Centers gaining hands-on experience in research in sleep medicine. This time includes mentorship of the medical and CAM treatment of insomnia. Understanding and interpreting diagnostic tests/procedures used in sleep medicine. The focus is to provide the fellow with a strong foundation in leading research programs. The focus of the fellowship is sleep medicine, however, the knowledge and skills acquired will be useful in various research settings.
The TSU Component
Monthly Professional Enrichment Days
During these periods, the fellows will explore and expand areas of interest developed during the course of the fellowship. A unique aspect of TSU’s component is that the fellow will work with faculty from nutritional sciences and dietetics, pharmacy, and other health sciences at TSU. This portion of the fellowship will expand the fellows' interprofessional interactions. The drug-nutrient interactions will be explored. The fellow will develop a strong understanding of the interrelationships between drugs and nutrients. The fellow will also explore current events impacting various components of CAM-related sleep medicine.
Attendance at the professional enrichment days is mandatory. Fellows will present a seminar 4-8 times during the fellowship.
Teaching Assistance
Fellows will serve as teaching assistants to faculty in the health sciences at TSU. They will have the opportunity to teach courses. Fellows will also develop course instructional materials using innovative teaching methods. Additional responsibilities may include serving on various COPHS committees, conducting continuing education programs, presenting seminars and workshops, and presenting at research week at TSU.