Postdoctoral Fellow

Are you driven to conduct research that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities?

Research can do more than generate knowledge. It can change lives. This postdoctoral opportunity is for a scholar who wants their work to matter beyond academia: to sit at the intersection of research, community, and compassion, and to help shape how brain health and dementia are understood, supported, and translated into action for individuals, families, and communities.

If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please feel free to reach out to Katie Japaridze, our Talent Management Specialist at  or

The School of Nursing at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in consultation with the Population Health and Aging Rural Research Centre (PHARR), the Lead Supervisor, a team of co-investigators and collaborators, invites applications for a postdoctoral research position focused on brain health and dementia.

This position is based at TRU’s Kamloops campus in British Columbia, located on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc within Secwepemcúlucw.

PHARR seeks a postdoctoral researcher to contribute to dementia-related research. This role offers opportunities to work directly with individuals living with dementia and their care partners, build academic relationships with interdisciplinary researchers, health professionals, organizational partners and engage in knowledge translation and publication within the health sciences community.

Candidates with expertise or special interest in the following are encouraged to apply:

• Psychology, Political Science, Public Health, Social Work, Nursing, Gerontology, or related discipline.
• Dementia research qualitative methodologies.
• Collaborative research with diverse community partners.
• Working with scoping reviews and familiarity with Covidence software is an asset.

Working under the supervision of Dr. Juanita-Dawne Bacsu (Principal Investigator), the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the deliverables and milestones of brain health and dementia-related projects supported by PHARR. Responsibilities include conducting qualitative research, supervising research assistants, analyzing data, and preparing manuscripts for publication. The candidate will also present findings at academic conferences and engage in knowledge translation activities. In addition, they will collaborate with cross-sector agencies and community stakeholders, including individuals living with dementia and their care partners, to ensure the research remains inclusive, relevant, and impactful.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in a relevant discipline such as nursing, psychology, public health, social work, gerontology, or a related field, with a demonstrated background in qualitative dementia research. They should have experience conducting research in collaboration with diverse community partners and possess strong skills in study design, data collection, and advanced data analysis. The ability to present findings to varied academic, clinical, and community audiences is essential.

Candidates must also demonstrate excellent interpersonal and mentorship skills, with the capacity to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

CIHR externally funded, awarded, and administered through Dr. Juanita-Dawne Bacsu’s research funds per LOA#5 under the TRUFA Coll Agreement.

The position start date will ideally be March 1st 2026 and end on March 1st 2027 (position for 1 year timeframe)

Thompson Rivers University is strongly committed to hiring based on merit with a focus on fostering diversity of thought within our community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff, our faculty and its scholarship including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous, Black and People of Colour, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, however applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.