Job Summary: The Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Neuroimaging Lab invites applicants for a full-time Postdoctoral position as well as a full-time Research Assistant position to participate in groundbreaking research to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease and other related neurodegenerative disorders, as part of a clinical research program of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College (Houston, Texas).

 

Houston Methodist's primary academic affiliates are Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell offer joint educational programs in medicine and clinical research through the Weill Cornell Medical College, and joint pre-doctoral training in translational biomedical research through the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

 

Postdoctoral Position

 

Principal Responsibilities: The Houston Methodist Research Institute seeks a qualified candidate to fill the position of neuroimaging research associate at the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology. The ideal candidate will have a background in signal processing and excellent computational skills. Experience using and developing algorithms for the analysis of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as positron emission tomography (PET), and having applied those algorithms to MRI/PET data will be a plus.

 

Required Qualifications: Applicants must hold a PhD degree in computer engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, applied physics, or equivalent, preferably, but not necessarily, with experience in brain-image analysis.

 

The successful candidate is expected to work on innovative neuroimaging research particularly as it is applied to human brain disease. Supervisors will include neuroscientists and biomedical engineers. Importantly, the successful candidate will carry out all the technical steps involved in the processing of brain MRI and PET images and ensure their quality. Critical steps are to evaluate the quality of MRI data, use standard software (MATLAB, FreeSurfer, FSL, SPM, Slicer, etc.) to analyze structural and functional MRI, and develop algorithms to optimize the use of those tools, as well as analyzing and databasing all MRI data. The successful candidate will use similar tools to process and store data from positron emission tomography (PET).

 

Benefits:

·      Starting date: As soon as possible

·      The postdoctoral position is scheduled initially for two years (open to five)

·      Salary will depend on experience

 

Research Assistant

 

Principal Responsibilities: Primary responsibilities include neuroimaging data analysis, behavioral analysis, data management, and general scientific programming. Standard software tools will be used for the statistical analysis of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as positron emission tomography (PET).

 

Required Qualifications: A strong background in computer programming and Linux is essential. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or physics, although other backgrounds with requisite experience will be considered.

 

Proficiency in MATLAB, shell scripting, and python is strongly encouraged. Familiarity with common neuroimaging tools is a plus (Freesurfer, FSL, AFNI, SPM, Slicer, etc.). The candidate is also expected to assist in management of neuroimaging data, therefore database experience (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and/or experience with neuroinformatics software (XNAT) is highly beneficial.

 

The ideal candidate must be mature and responsible with excellent organizational, as well as oral and written communication skills. You must be able to work independently in a fast-paced environment, juggle and prioritize multiple tasks, and seek help when required.

 

Benefits:

·      Starting date: As soon as possible

·      The Research Assistant position is scheduled initially for two years (open to renewal)

·      Salary will depend on experience

 

 

Additional Information: Applicants should e-mail (1) a letter of interest, (2) CV, and (3) three references to Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD (jcmasdeu@houstonmethodist.org) and Belen Pascual, PhD (bpascual@houstonmethodist.org).

 

The Houston Methodist Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.