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Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research - Arms & Hands Lab - Dr. Monica Perez

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · Chicago, IL · $47,300–$78,700 a year · Full time

Posted Jul 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through your dissertation work in a way a clinician on our team could follow.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain their research clearly to the clinical people they will collaborate with.

Tell me about a paper you wrote. What was your role, and what was the hardest part?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead writing and carry a paper through to publication, a key postdoc output.

How do you handle a disagreement with your PI about how to interpret your data?

What they are checking: Whether they can defend their reasoning with evidence while staying open to a more experienced view.

Where do you want to be at the end of this fellowship, and how would this lab get you there?

What they are checking: Whether they have a clear career plan, such as grants or faculty roles, that this training supports.

What would you do

Your experiment isn't producing the effect you expected after several months. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can troubleshoot methods honestly and know when to change course rather than chase a result.

How do you make sure research participants with severe disabilities are safe and comfortable during long testing sessions?

What they are checking: Whether they put participant welfare first, which matters a lot when studying people with complex conditions.

About the work

The Arms and Hands Lab studies recovery of upper-limb function. What research question in that space would you most want to work on here?

What they are checking: Whether their interests fit the lab's focus and they have thought about what they would add.

What experience do you have with neurophysiology methods like transcranial magnetic stimulation or electrophysiology recordings?

What they are checking: Whether they have the hands-on methods skills to run experiments in a neuroscience and rehabilitation lab.

How would you design a study testing whether a new intervention improves hand function in people with spinal cord injury?

What they are checking: Whether they can design a sound study with proper controls, outcomes and sample size for a hard-to-recruit population.

What statistical approaches do you use for repeated measurements within the same participants?

What they are checking: Whether they can analyze longitudinal or within-subject data correctly, which is common in rehab research.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions. By joining our team, you’ll be part of our life-changing mission and vision. You’ll contribute to an innovative, multifaceted culture that is second to none — one that embraces collaboration, excellence, discovery and compassion. You’ll play a role in something that’s never been done before as we integrate science and clinical care to help patients achieve better, faster outcomes — as we Advance Human Ability, together. Job Description Summary The Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research will assist in the design, development, execution, and implementation of scientific research and/or development in collaboration with a research team. The Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research will consistently demonstrate support of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab statement of Vision, Mission and Core Values by striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute. The Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research will demonstrate Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Core Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, and Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties. Job Description The Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research: • Ensures the design, development, execution and implementation of scientific research and/or development in collaboration with a research team. • Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories to potential inventions and products. • Maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories. • Assists with development of collaborative projects within and outside the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and test ideas for new projects development. • Applies for fellowships and grants for external lab funding and career development. • Participates weekly lab meetings, journal clubs and seminars. • Builds and maintains a well-organized and accountable journal of own laboratory protocols, experiments, results and analyses. • Develops, submits and publishes results of research projects scientific journals and presents data to public conferences/seminars when needed. • Performs all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Reporting Relationships: • Reports directly to the assigned Principal Investigator Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Requires the academic knowledge associated with a doctorate degree • Typically, less than 4 years of postdoctoral training. • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. • General knowledge or interest in rehabilitation and specific knowledge in biomedical or clinical principles. • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills needed to participate as a creative member of a growing research team. • Ability to exchange ideas and to work closely with clinicians, patients and professional organizations. • Willingness to network within the Institute and to independently strengthen/develop new external collaborations. • Ability to timely plan and to coordinate project completions. Working Conditions: • Normal office environment with little or no exposure to dust or extreme temperature. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Pay and Benefits*: Pay Range: $47,300.00 - $78,700.00 Benefits: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers a comprehensive benefits program that is competitive with our industry peers in our geographic locations: https://www.sralab.org/benefits *Benefits and benefits’ eligibility can vary by position. Actual compensation will be determined by equity and qualifications of the role. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunity without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, order of protection status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other characteristics protected by law. EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law - Know Your Rights | View our Full Policy Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an Affirmative Action Employer as required by law.

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