Research Fellow-PC Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - Korupolu lab

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation seeks a motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to Dr. Radha Korupolu’s NIH-funded R01 study, “Effects of a Mobile App-Based Mindfulness Intervention in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury and Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”

The study evaluates a mobile app-based mindfulness intervention compared with health education in individuals with spinal cord injury and chronic pain. Under Dr. Korupolu’s mentorship, the fellow will contribute to study implementation, data analysis, scientific publications, and the development of an independent research program in rehabilitation, chronic pain, and behavioral health.

The fellow will work closely with investigators, research coordinators, statisticians, collaborating institutions, and community advisory board members.
Key Responsibilities
•    Contribute to implementation of the research protocol and development of study procedures, training materials, and assessment workflows.
•    Collaborate with research coordinators to support participant recruitment, engagement, retention, and completion of study assessments.
•    Conduct protocol-assigned participant interviews and standardized assessments following appropriate training.
•    Support consistent implementation of study procedures across participating sites, including intervention fidelity and maintenance of study blinding, as applicable.
•    Evaluate participant engagement with the mobile intervention and help identify barriers to adherence and accessibility.
•    Assist with data quality monitoring, data cleaning, documentation, and preparation of datasets for analysis using REDCap and other approved systems.
•    Work with the study statistician and investigators on analyses of pain, psychological well-being, mindfulness, quality of life, and other protocol-defined outcomes.
•    Lead and contribute to manuscripts, conference abstracts, presentations, literature reviews, and secondary analyses.
•    Assist with IRB documentation, study progress reports, and research reporting under the direction of the PI and program coordinator.
•    Participate in study meetings and community advisory board activities to incorporate the perspectives of people living with spinal cord injury.
•    Develop research questions and grant proposals aligned with the study and the fellow’s career goals.

Training and Professional Development
The fellow will receive mentorship in clinical trial methods, rehabilitation research, scientific writing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and grant development. Opportunities will include leading publications and developing an independent research focus within the scope of the funded project.

A Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic is a temporary position intended to provide training and education in research. Individuals will train in the research program of a Mayo Clinic principal investigator. Qualified individuals will demonstrate the potential for research as evidenced by their training and peer-reviewed publications and should become competitive for national research grants. Upon background check and CCATS Executive Committee approval, Research Fellow may have patient/research subject contact directly relating to and incidental to the original research program. Proof of English proficiency is required for J-1 Short-Term Scholars, Research Scholars, Professors, Specialists, and Student Interns sponsored by Mayo Clinic.

•   An M.D. or Ph.D. (preferably in Psychology or a closely related field), with the degree completed before the appointment begins, and a proven track record of involvement in mindfulness meditation studies, including research design, implementation, or evaluation.
• Demonstrated interest in clinical research involving spinal cord injury, chronic pain, rehabilitation, mindfulness, or behavioral health.
• Training or experience in research methods and quantitative data analysis.
• Strong scientific writing, communication, organizational, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Commitment to ethical research practices, participant confidentiality, and respectful engagement with individuals with disabilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience in clinical, health, or rehabilitation psychology; pain management; or behavioral medicine.
• Experience with randomized controlled trials, digital health interventions, or remotely delivered research.
• Experience interacting with research participants and administering standardized patient-reported assessments.
• Familiarity with REDCap and statistical software such as R, SAS, SPSS, or Stata.
• Peer-reviewed publications or scientific presentations.
• Experience studying mindfulness, intervention adherence, or psychosocial outcomes.
• Familiarity with human subject’s research and Good Clinical Practice.