Postdoctoral Scholar

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

CGNE Postdoctoral Scholar: Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing seeks applicants for the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence’s (CGNE) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Preference will be given to applicants with research interests related to topics of aging and geriatrics including age-friendly care, care of persons living with dementia, well-being and efficacy of care partners, cognitive and physical functioning, delirium, stigma related to aging and dementia, workforce preparation and support, technological innovations, and person-centered care, as well as other gerontological  topics aligned with the CGNE mission and research portfolios of faculty in the Center.

Successful fellowship candidates will be paired with faculty mentors based on a shared area of focus and interest. Fellows will work directly on research projects of CGNE-affiliated faculty, pursue independent research activities in line with their developing program of research, and engage in professional development opportunities across Penn State. All fellows are funded for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second-year contingent on progress in achieving first-year goals and funding availability.

For more information about CGNE, please visit https://www.nursing.psu.edu/cgne/.  At this website, you will find information about our vision, mission, and faculty, as well as links to our annual report. 

Application Open Date: January 27, 2026

Applications will be reviewed and interviews completed on a rolling basis until the April deadline.

Application End Date: April 15, 2026

Expected Hire/Start Date: July I, 2026 preferred but negotiable.

Eligibility:

• PhD prepared Nurses (or related field) within two years of degree completion preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to scholarship in aging, geriatrics and/or gerontology.
• Applicant's area of interest must be aligned with at least one faculty mentor in the Center. (https://www.nursing.psu.edu/cgne/areas-of-expertise/)
• Evidence of scholarly productivity including research-based publications and excellent dissemination skills (oral and written). 
• Candidates for this position should demonstrate strong motivation to develop an independent research career/ portfolio.
• Fellowships open to eligible U.S. citizens and international applicants. Applicants who are not United States citizens/residents must be eligible for either H-1B or J-1 Visa and need to pursue this on their own behalf, in association with university resources if needed. Sponsorship is contingent upon federal requirements and associated costs.
• Applicants from groups underrepresented in the nursing profession are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Salary commensurate with background and experience.

Health Insurance benefits: Will follow Penn State Policy.

Provision of mentorship to develop independent scholarship and promote robust research career trajectory.

Funding for conference registration and travel support and/or professional development opportunities.

Opportunity to collaborate with nationally and internationally recognized faculty in aging.

Working with funded researchers with access to data sets involving older adults across the care continuum.

Ability to apply for CGNE project funding support.

Responsibilities:

The postdoctoral fellow will:

• Co-create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with their primary mentor to identify goals, needed training/course work, timeline, outcomes, and planned engagement with other centers/researchers.
• Refine career goals and grant development skills.
• Extend their research agenda through the writing and submission of early-stage career grant applications, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Participate in the primary mentor’s current research initiatives consistent with the IDP.
• Further develop teaching and mentoring skills.
• Expand research skills, including methodologic expertise.
• Contribute to the Nese College of Nursing and the CGNE within their area of expertise.

Application Requirements:

Phase I: Applicants must begin process via Penn State recruitment site and include the following:

• Online application
• Cover Letter which includes prior research experience, area of focus, Penn State Nese CON faculty member to serve as potential primary mentor including alignment with their program of research; goals for postdoctoral training and career, highlights of current and interest in expanding or learning new research skills, potential contributions to research team, and how interests/work would align with CGNE and CON.
• Current CV with contact information

Phase II: After the interview with CGNE search committee, submit the following to Janice Whitaker @ [email protected]

• 1-2 page/s research statement including goals for program of research over the next 5 years.
• Copy of 1-2 published articles
• 3 Letters of recommendation. One of these letters must be from the identified primary mentor at Penn State and include justification for the proposed fellowship. At least one letter should be from a member of the applicant’s dissertation committee. Letters should be sent via email directly from the and should describe the applicant’s scholarly abilities, areas for growth and future potential.

Questions related to the postdoctoral fellowship opportunity should be directed to:

Donna Marie Fick, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, FGSA, FAAN
Elouise Ross Eberly Endowed Professor  

Director, Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence

Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Penn State University

[email protected]

Phase I application materials must be submitted to Penn State recruitment site.

Candidates will be notified if they are selected for an interview with the search committee.  

After the interview, Phase II application requirements should be emailed to the CGNE Administrator (as below).

Janice Whitaker, M.Ed., B.S.N., RN, CDP

CGNE Administrator, Education Program Manager, and Community Liaison

Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence

Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing

The Pennsylvania State University

[email protected]

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

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