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Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research - Think & Speak Lab - Dr. Jordan Grafman

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Jun 20, 2025 · 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

Tell me about your dissertation in a way a speech therapist on our team could follow.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain their work clearly to the clinicians they will collaborate with.

Tell me about a time you worked through a disagreement with a collaborator on how to analyze data.

What they are checking: Whether they can resolve scientific disagreements with evidence and respect.

What would you want to have published or funded by the end of this fellowship?

What they are checking: Whether they have clear goals for their training and a plan to reach them.

What would you do

How do you make sure participants with cognitive problems truly understand consent?

What they are checking: Whether they protect vulnerable participants and use proper consent methods for impaired capacity.

A participant gets frustrated and wants to stop halfway through a long testing session. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they respect participant comfort and rights over finishing the data collection.

About the work

The Think and Speak Lab studies cognition and language after brain injury. What question in that area would you want to pursue here?

What they are checking: Whether their interests fit the lab's focus and they have thought about their own contribution.

How would you design a study on recovery of thinking skills in patients with traumatic brain injury?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan a sound study with the right measures and controls in a varied patient group.

What experience do you have with neuroimaging or brain stimulation methods?

What they are checking: Whether they have the methods skills common in cognitive neuroscience research on brain injury.

How do you choose cognitive tests that are sensitive to change in patients with brain injury?

What they are checking: Whether they understand measurement issues like ceiling effects and practice effects in repeated testing.

How do you handle a large dataset with many brain measures without finding false positives?

What they are checking: Whether they correct for multiple comparisons and use rigorous statistics.

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The full job description

As published by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

By joining our team, you’ll be part of our life-changing Mission and Vision. You’ll work in a truly inclusive environment where diversity and equity are championed through words and actions. You’ll contribute to an innovative culture that is second to none, one that embraces curiosity, 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. Pay and Benefits*: Pay Range: $ 47,368.46 annually - $ 78,626.08 annually 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 vary based on applicant’s experience and qualifications, as well as internal equity. 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. Equal Employment Opportunity ShirleyRyan AbilityLab is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Apply at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab