POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AVAILABLE
We have an immediate opening for a full-time Post-Doctoral Fellow to initiate research within the domain
of health sector work practices, issues arising in relation to standardization and local practices (Theme 2).
This fellowship will commence in January 2006. Fellows will work in at the interface of social, health and
information sciences. Visit our website (www.sfu.ca/act4hlth) for details on sub-projects.
Project Overview:
ACTION for Health project is an international and multi-disciplinary study based in Vancouver, Canada,
that explores the social aspects of information technology in the health sector within Canada and abroad,
with goals of encouraging positive change in policy and practices.
The project has the following objectives:
ƒ To study access to and use of computer-mediated health information in different settings;
ƒ To examine whether the revealed practices support the goals and values of the New Economy in
health services, and particularly those related to what Canadians value in our health system;
ƒ To explore barriers and facilitators to the integration of information technology in health contexts.
The research is organized along 3 themes:
ƒ Theme 1 – The role of information technology in the public consumption of health information
ƒ Theme 2 – The effects and challenges of increasing computerization in health sector work
environments
ƒ Theme 3 – The legal and ethical issues associated with information technology in the health
sector
Benefits to Fellows:
ƒ Excellent opportunities for field research in numerous areas of health care
ƒ Acquire skills essential for communicating with multiple stakeholders, including decision-makers in
government and health care
ƒ Work with a group of bright and outgoing students from the SFU Assessment of Technology In
Context (ATIC) Lab
ƒ Competitive salary and benefits
ƒ Develop project management skills
ƒ Live, work and play in Vancouver, British Columbia — a beautiful, culturally-diverse city that
affords numerous year-round recreational activities; and host of the 2010 Olympics
Requirements:
ƒ Ph.D. in Social Sciences (e.g. Sociology, Anthropology, Communication, Science, Technology &
Society), Information or Computer Science, or other related disciplines
ƒ Publications in relevant fields
ƒ Knowledge of information science as it relates to health care systems
ƒ Experience conducting field research
Please Submit the following by Email to Apply:
• Current curriculum vitae
• A brief overview of research areas of interest along with a description of short term objectives
to be achieved with a fellowship, and long term career goals
• Three letters of recommendation
• graduate transcripts
For more information and application requirements please contact Dr. Ellen Balka:
email: actadmin@sfu.ca
phone: +1.604.725.2756
visit the ACTION for Health Website:
www.sfu.ca/act4hlth