Postdoctoral Fellow - Investigational Cancer Therapeutics-Research

The Postdoctoral Fellow will assist principal investigators with clinical, translational, and basic scientific research projects. Based on the preclinical component of a phase 1 program. Functions in a separate and independent manner in the design and initiation of research experiments. Clinical trial participants are often introduced to studies through time-limited consent discussions that require research staff to convey complex medical and regulatory information. Variability in communication styles, dense language, and limited opportunities to revisit information can hinder participant understanding, satisfaction, and engagement. These challenges highlight the need for scalable, patient-centered tools that enhance comprehension while reducing the burden on research teams. To address this gap, this study designed and evaluated an artificial intelligence–driven, document-grounded chatbot to support the informed consent process. Using a large language model augmented with retrieval from study-specific protocol and consent documents, the chatbot provided consistent, on-demand, plain-language responses to participant questions. The chatbot demonstrated strong performance in clarity and plain language use, with generally high levels of accuracy and completeness when responding within the scope of the study materials. Findings suggest that AI-enabled conversational tools can serve as a reliable adjunct to traditional consent processes, improving accessibility to information and potentially enhancing participant experience, while underscoring the importance of maintaining carefully curated, study-specific knowledge sources to ensure response precision. Along with the project described above, the Postdoctoral Fellow will also assist Surgical Oncology research faculty with duties relating to conducting research, compiling patient data, implementing ideas, and assisting in writing manuscripts for publication as well as research grant proposals. The fellow will participate in evaluation of collaborative research studies, analyzing and interpreting data. The fellow will be required to present scientific results and findings at lab meetings and attend all related research conferences. All duties and responsibilities are carried out in compliance with institutional policies, ethical research standards, and applicable federal and state regulations. Learning objectives Research Methodology Data Analysis Manuscript Writing Training activities IRB, meeting with partners, database creation, learning scientific process Meet with stats experts to learn statistical methods Help write abstracts/papers and learn the process of manuscript preparation Online tools, software, network access, application, etc. provided as part of this program MS Office, Teams, Adobe, Zoom, RedCap, SPSS, STATA, online databases Eligibility requirements Doctoral in medicine, science, or other related fields. Position information MD Anderson offers full-time postdoc positions with a salary ranging from $64,000 to $76,000, depending on the number of years of postgraduate experience. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers benefits including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition. Offsite work arrangements are subject to approval and may be modified or revoked at any time based on business needs, performance considerations, or regulatory requirements. This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, and may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment. It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr UT MD Anderson