Knee Ligament Preservation RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Hospital for Special Surgery

August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2026

Fully Funded

February 15, 2025

The Knee Ligament Preservation Research Fellowship offers a unique, one-year postdoctoral opportunity to engage in cutting-edge, translational research focused on knee ligament injuries. This fellowship is conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Gregory S. DiFelice, a fellowship-trained sports traumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). The fellowship is tailored for highly motivated orthopedic surgery residents with an interest in advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques for knee ligament injuries.

This full-time, fully funded research fellowship will provide an opportunity for professional development, offering hands-on experience in leading research projects, publishing in top-tier journals, and presenting at national and international conferences. The fellowship is designed to foster future leaders in orthopaedic surgery and clinical research.

The Hospital for Special Surgery is a world-leading academic hospital specializing in orthopaedics and rheumatology. As the oldest orthopaedic hospital in the United States, founded in 1863, HSS is widely recognized for its excellence in patient care and research, and ranked as the number one orthopaedic hospital in the United States for the past 15 years. By joining the DiFelice Foundation for Orthopaedics at HSS, you will be part of a team that includes world-renowned surgeons, researchers, and clinicians dedicated to advancing minimally invasive, preservation-focused surgical techniques. The fellowship provides exposure to clinical and translational research while offering networking, mentorship, and career development opportunities within a dynamic academic medical center.

The DiFelice Foundation for Orthopaedics (DiFO) is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the field of orthopaedics through pioneering research in minimally invasive and anatomically focused surgical techniques, treating ligamentous knee injuries. Founded with a mission to improve patient outcomes through the Preservation First® principle, DiFO advocates for surgical techniques that prioritize preserving and restoring the body's native anatomy as much as possible. The principle emphasizes that "one size does not fit all" and promotes the idea that the body’s natural healing processes should be used to its fullest potential as part of the treatment plan. By focusing on anatomical preservation, the Preservation First® approach strives to deliver the most effective, personalized care for patients. Since its inception, DiFO has been at the forefront of advancing these principles. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications and a decade of podium presentations at international meetings, the foundation has made a significant impact on orthopaedic research. DiFO is committed to influencing future generations of surgeons and researchers, continually pushing the boundaries of knowledge and clinical practice in knee ligament preservation.

The fellowship offers the opportunity to work on a diverse range of research initiatives in knee ligament preservation. Key areas of focus include:

• Clinical  Outcome Studies: Conduct evidence-based research through clinical follow-up studies to evaluate surgical techniques and refine treatment algorithms.
• Advancement of Surgical Techniques: Innovate and refine minimally invasive surgical techniques that prioritize anatomical preservation and improve patient outcomes in knee ligament injuries.
• Development of Treatment Algorithms: Develop and refine evidence-based treatment algorithms for knee ligament injuries, focusing on optimizing repair, augmentation, and reconstruction approaches.
• Imaging Research: Develop and improve radiologic classification systems for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.
• Soft Tissue Vascularity: Investigate the role of regional soft tissue perfusion to better understand soft tissue properties and biologic healing capacities.
• Biomedical Engineering: Conduct biomechanical cadaver testing to validate and enhance novel surgical techniques, devices, and instrumentation.

•  Lead and conduct research projects, including designing, planning, and executing experiments and clinical studies.
• Write and publish manuscripts as the lead author, presenting your research findings at national and international conferences.
• Prepare and submit research proposals: IRB applications and grant proposals.
• Organize and lead weekly research meetings in close collaboration with the DiFO Head of Research and Head of Operations, to manage research workflows and ensure project milestones are met.
• Supervise and mentor research assistants, guiding them in daily research tasks and supporting their professional development.

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• MD degree, Orthopaedic surgery resident, either at the start of their residency or progressing through their training, with a keen interest in research and knee surgery.
• Strong background and interest in musculoskeletal research.
• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects, including experience with study design, manuscript writing, and presenting research findings.
• Experience with data analysis and research software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, MATLAB, R, Python) is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with experience presenting research at conferences.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.