Postdoctoral Associate – Healthcare (Prehabilitation)

  • Location: CBU
  • Competition Number: 172
  • Deadline: February 6, 2026 at 11:00 pm

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Cape Breton University (CBU) is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to join a transformative, multi-year research initiative titled Homeward Bound: Enhancing Healthcare, Housing, and Social Support for Aging Rural Nova Scotians. Funded by Research Nova Scotia and led by Dr. Alison Grittner, this 7-year initiative aims to support aging in the right place (AIRP) by improving the integration of healthcare, housing, and social services in rural communities across Nova Scotia’s Eastern Health Zone.

This ambitious project brings together a multidisciplinary team spanning social work, architecture, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, communication, and policy, in partnership with communities, government, and academic institutions. Find out more here: www.homewardboundns.ca

This postdoctoral position will focus on the health support (pre-hab) pillar of Homeward Bound, collaborating with the housing and social work project areas.

This postdoctoral role focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating healthcare-related interventions that support older adults aging in place across Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in rural Nova Scotia. The methodological approach spans need assessment, co-design, training, implementation, and longitudinal monitoring. Prehabilitation aims to optimize ARNS physical, nutritional, emotional, and medical conditions prior to surgery to reduce postoperative morbidities. This comprehensive program includes personalized interventions such as movement, nutrition optimization, and psychological support to communities that may not have occupational therapists, fitness facilities, social workers, or dieticians located within immediate community contexts.

Research activities include: development of prehab exercise/nutrition modules, pilot virtual delivery, track pre/post frailty index shifts, adapting prehabilitation content for cultural relevance, analyzing dropout reasons and

This is a full-time hybrid role based in Sydney, NS, reporting to the Project Manager and working closely with a multi-disciplinary team. 

This role is budgeted at approximately $70,000–$80,000 per year. This position is for three years with renewal possibilities, dependent upon funding, project needs, and satisfactory performance.

The position includes a combination of on-campus, community-based, and remote work, with flexibility to support research activities such as data analysis, writing, and virtual collaboration. 

The applicant must be able to travel across Eastern Nova Scotia, as needed for community-engaged research activities. The Postdoctoral Associate will be provided with office space on campus and access to university research infrastructure, including computing resources, software, and administrative support necessary to carry out the role.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead and contribute to interdisciplinary research on facilitating clinical and healthcare supports for aging in the right place for rural Nova Scotians.
  • Works directly with municipal and other partners to conceptualize, design, and manage large-scale research projects.
  • Collaboratively design, collect/create, analyze, and mobilize research activities.
  • Collaborate across sectors (healthcare, university, community, government, industry, lived experience, etc.) to advance research and mobilize knowledge.
  • Publish peer-reviewed publications and present findings at national and international conferences.
  • Uphold critical feminist values and anti-oppressive practice across all project areas.

Required Qualifications:

  • Ph.D., or other doctoral degree equivalent. in fields related to health services, kinesiology, rehabilitation, social science/gerontology, psychology, nursing, etc. with strong critical-orientation (completed by start date). PhD must have been awarded within five years of position start date.
  • Demonstrated expertise in community-engaged research alongside equity-denied populations, including Indigenous communities, women and gender diverse individuals, and persons with disabilities
  • Strong manuscript writing skills as demonstrated by a track record of peer-reviewed publications (in English).
  • Experience conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research with vulnerable communities.
  • In-depth knowledge of community based participatory research and actualizing anti-oppressive/critical theory in the field.
  • High level of initiative and problem-solving.
  • Demonstrated leadership, rapport-building, and advocacy skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in diverse, interdisciplinary teams.
  • Ability to travel throughout Nova Scotia and engage with communities (requires or willingness to obtain regular class 5 license.).

Desirable Skills and Experience

  • Community-engaged praxis with older adults, aging in the right place, and/or rural equity.
  • Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
  • Commitment to critical feminist research and anti-oppressive practices.
  • Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Applications for the successful candidate will include a:

  • Cover letter describing the expertise of the applicant
  • Complete resume
  • List of at least three references.

Please upload all required documents to Additional Documents if no designated area is listed. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Click here to view more information and to apply.

Applications must be received by February 6th, 2026.

Cape Breton University is strongly committed to fostering diversity 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, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply but applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

CBU is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and applicants are encouraged to self-identity if they are part of a marginalised community, or have experience working with Indigenous communities.

If we contact you for an interview and you are a person with a disability who requires technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance.

Cape Breton University

Human Resources Dept.

HumanResources@cbu.ca

1250 Grand Lake Road,

Sydney, NS B1M 1A2