PhDs, postdocs and other positions

We are currently advertising a PhD project entitled 'Elucidating the impact of childhood emotional neglect on hippocampal function: a neurocognitive and neuroimaging approach' which may be of interest to current (or past) masters students with an interest in MRI, psychopathology, and hippocampal research. Please see below for further details. Project Description: The impact of early adversity on the risk of depression is well recognised but mechanistically, poorly understood. Moreover, putative models of the relevant relationships are simplistic and inadequately tested. Rodent studies show that reduced maternal care causes a linear reduction in hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) regulation which, most likely via epigenetic mechanisms, is sustained into adulthood. Reduced hippocampal GR function reduces homeostatic control of cortisol. Cortisol excess has been shown to be neurotoxic and may underlie the reduced hippocampal volume seen in imaging and post-mortem studies in patients suffering from depression. In a recent study we demonstrated a striking negative correlation (r=-0.86, p <0.01) between the degree of reported childhood emotional neglect and performance on a range of hippocampal-dependent tasks of episodic memory and episodic future thinking (i.e., the ability to imagine ones' personal future) in a cohort of current undergraduate students. In this studentship, we will use a combination of cognitive testing, neuroimaging (both structural and functional MRI) and an ex-vivo measure of GR function to probe this relationship further. In addition, structural equation modelling will be used in the development and testing of hippocampal-dependent models of the mediation of the impact of early adversity on depression. In this way we aim to shed light on the neural, and ensuing cognitive, cost of early childhood adversity, to determine whether cognitions, intimately linked with the functionality of the hippocampus, are especially vulnerable to the impact of early adversity and offer an explanation as to how, and why, these early experiences have the potential to unleash such devastation on future mental health. The supervisory team will include Dr Sinéad Mullally (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/staff/profile/sineadmullally.html#background), Dr Stuart Watson (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ion/staff/profile/stuartwatson.html#background) and Prof Stephen Rushton (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/biology/staff/profile/stevenrushton.html#background). For further details and to apply online please see http://www.findaphd.com/search/projectdetails.aspx?PJID=70308 Informal enquiries should be made to either myself (sinead.mullally(a)ncl.ac.uk) or Dr Stuart Watson (stuart.watson(a)ncl.ac.uk). Please note that the closing date for this application is 22nd January 2016, and is a MRC DiMeN (Discovery Medicine North) Doctoral Training Partnership studentship. ============================ We are seeking to recruit a non-clinical research associate / fellow in paediatric neuroimaging to join our group at the University of Nottingham's Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (QMC Campus). The successful applicant will lead on the structural and functional image analysis of the CATNAP (Childhood Ataxia Telangiectasia Neuroimaging Assessment Project) MRI dataset. This dataset comprises neuroimaging from children with the inherited neurodegenerative condition Ataxia Telangiectasia and healthy control children, and includes structural images, resting state fMRI, DTI, perfusion and spectroscopic data. The study is funded by the A-T Children's Project and Action for A-T. The position is open to post-docs, and we would also be happy to receive applications from researchers who have submitted their soft-bound PhD thesis and are awaiting viva or performing PhD thesis corrections. The post is available immediately, and will finish on 16th August 2016. The closing date for applications is 19th January. More information can be found at: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/MED377615 I'd be very happy to take informal enquiries about the post, and provide further information or arrange visits as required. Best Wishes, Rob (Dr Rob Dineen, Clinical Associate Professor of Neuroimaging, University of Nottingham) =========================== The Institute Established in 2003, Queensland Brain Institute (http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/) is housed on the St Lucia campus of University of Queensland, Australia. It is home to more than 400 staff, including 34 group leaders, working across a range of disciplines, focussed on discovering the fundamental mechanisms that regulate brain development and function in health and disease. QBI has state-of-the-art core facilities for super resolution microscopy, flow cytometry, molecular genetics, histochemistry and cognitive testing. Access is also available to an advanced imaging facility, including 16.4T MRI, 9.4T MRI (with cryoprobe), 7T MR-PET and microPET/CT for animal imaging, and 7T, 3T and PET/CT for human imaging. Over the past decade QBI has positioned itself as one of the world's leading neuroscience research institutes. It played a key role in contributing to UQ attaining the highest possible score of 5 for neuroscience, in both the 2010 and 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) reviews, one of only two universities in Australia to achieve this. The Role To goal of the lab is to determine neural endophenotype of diseases using functional and molecular imaging. One of the focus is to understand disease dependent functional connectome. Connectome refers to how the neural circuits of the brain are organized and their functional interaction. It stems from microscopic synaptic and cellular connectivity to macroscopic cortical organization. Understanding the brain connectome is a critical component for linking behaviour with cellular and molecular changes. Especially, recent clinical researchers have identified an association between brain connectome and clinical phenotype/severity in various neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. However, due to the complicated disease mechanisms, whether and how the deficit of a particular functional network is caused by specific protein pathology, such as amyloidosis or tauopathy, or genetic mutation is not clear. To understand the relationship with the molecular pathology, we are developing advanced in vivo imaging techniques (MRI, PET and optical imaging) to track the structural, functional and molecular changes longitudinally in transgenic mice that express specific disease-related mutations. Correlations can then be drawn between animal behaviour, neuropathology, neurotransmission and the neural network. There are opportunities for highly motivated postdoctoral research fellow and PhD student to join this collaborative project. The postdoc/student will learn, refine and develop in vivo functional imaging in rodents to understand how neurotransmission and functional connectome are disrupted in the disease progression. The results will be validated by PET, electrophysiology and optogenetics. The Person The applicants must have a PhD (or close to completion) in neuroscience, biomedical engineering or related field. Applicants will have demonstrated track records and expert knowledge in the area of MRI physics, animal experiment and neurophysiology. Experience in functional MRI, MRS, and programming language (Matlab or C/C++) are required. Applicants will also have demonstrated ability to bring research to publication, excellent organisational and time management skills as well as a high level of written, oral and interpersonal communication skills. Remuneration The research fellow position is a full-time fixed term appointment up to three (3) years at an Academic Research Level A or B with the possibility of renewal subject to successful funding. Level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications, experience and academic achievements. The remuneration package will be in the range of: Academic level A $74,042 - $82,510 p.a., plus employer superannuation contributions of up to 17% (total package will be in the range of $86,630 - $96,536 p.a.). Academic Level B- $86,853 - $103,138 p.a., plus employer superannuation contributions of up to 17% (total package will be in the range $101,618 - $120,671 p.a.). Enquiries Further information regarding the project can be obtained by contacting Associate Professor Kai-Hsiang Chuang (k.chuang(a)uq.edu.au). To submit an application for this role clearly state the title of the role, and use the Apply button on the UQ Jobs website – see links below for position advertisements: http://jobs.uq.edu.au/caw/en/job/497432/postdoctoral-research-fellowresearc… ============================ Postdoctoral Scholar Position in Multimodal Neuroimaging of Pediatric Concussion Duration: 2-3 years Start date: Fall 2016 or negotiable Salary: $50,000/yr + benefits The Departments of Clinical Neurosciences, Psychology, and Radiology at the University of Calgary are accepting applications for a postdoctoral scholar with interests in multimodal neuroimaging and its relationship to outcomes and treatment of pediatric concusssion. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Karen Barlow and Dr. Keith Yeates on their CIHR-funded studies of pediatric concussion, and will receive advanced training from Dr. Signe Bray, Dr. Brad Goodyear, and Dr. Catherine Lebel, neuroimaging scientists at the Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) program (see https://www.ucalgary.ca/ach-mri-research-centre/) and the Seaman Family MR Centre (https://mrcentre.ca/). Dr. Barlow is an Associate Professor in Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences and a member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI). Her research focuses on improving the outcome of pediatric concussion in two ways: i) by designing clinical tools and novel biomarkers, including imaging biomarkers (MRI, TMS and fNIRS), to monitor outcome and treatment, and ii) by performing clinical trials using both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological agents. She is funded by a CIHR Team Grant and directs a randomized controlled pharmacological trial for post-concussion syndrome that includes the use of multimodal imaging to monitor response to treatment (www.playgametrial.ca). Dr. Yeates is a Professor in the Department of Psychology, and Ronald and Irene Ward Chair of Pediatric Brain Injury. He serves as program lead for the Integrated Concussion Research Program (ICRP), an interdisciplinary, campus-wide initiative supported by both ACHRI and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI). He has received substantial external grant funding for research focusing on the outcomes of pediatric traumatic brain injury, including a recent CIHR Foundation Grant focused on the assessment and treatment of pediatric concussion. Dr. Bray is an Asssistant Professor in the Department of Radiology and scientific director of the Child & Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bray’s research is supported by CIHR, NSERC, and the SickKids Foundation. She uses structural and functional imaging to investigate typical and atypical developmental changes in the brain, and their relationship with cognitive development. Dr. Goodyear is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology and an imaging scientist at the Seaman Family MR Centre. Dr. Goodyear's research interest is primarily in the development of signal processing and analysis methods for resting-state fMRI, and the application of these methods to the investigation of neurological and neurovascular disease. Dr. Lebel is an Asssistant Professor in the Department of Radiology, and a member of the Child & Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Dr. Lebel’s research is supported by CIHR, NSERC, and NeuroDevNet. Much of her work has used DTI to assess white matter microstructure. Specifically, her research interests include brain plasticity in response to learning, treatment, or intervention, and brain maturation in children with developmental disorders such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The scholar will work with Drs. Barlow and Yeates on their CIHR-funded studies, under the tutelage of Dr. Bray, Dr. Goodyear, and Dr. Lebel, to examine multimodal neuroimaging correlates of pediatric concussion outcomes. Current imaging protocols include 3D volumetric, DTI, ASL, fMRI (task-related and resting state), and quantitative susceptibility mapping. Applicants should have a PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, medical sciences, or other relevant discipline, and experience with MR image processing and analysis. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, CV, graduate transcript, and 3 recommendation letters to kyeates(a)ucalgary.ca or Karen.barlow(a)albertahealthservices.ca. The University of Calgary is a leading Canadian university located in the nation’s most enterprising city. Named a cultural capital of Canada and one of the best places to live in the world, Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. ===================================== The Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, invites applications for two post-doctoral positions in the Cardiac Neuroscience Laboratory. Post-doctoral associates will become part of an NIH-supported translational and transdisciplinary research team led by Drs. Marsha Bates and Jennifer Buckman. We seek a post-doctoral candidate with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experience to oversee neuroimaging sessions and contribute to cutting-edge analytic approaches with our multi-institution imaging team. We further seek a post-doctoral candidate with clinical research experience to oversee intake and screening assessments for a randomized clinical trial (RCT) that targets parenting women who are receiving intensive outpatient treatment for a substance use disorder. This new RCT assesses a brief biobehavioral, breathing-based intervention as an adjunct to treatment as usual by examining changes in neurocardiac signaling, BOLD reactivity, brain connectivity, cognitive ability, psychopathology, and substance use from pre- to post-treatment. Substantial training and publication opportunities are available in psychophysiology, neuroimaging, and clinical intervention within a translational science framework working with physiologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and computational modelers. Opportunities exist to model and connect clinical, behavioral, and biological level assessments within a team science paradigm. The successful candidates will have a PhD in Psychology or a related field with a background in addiction and research methods. Neuroimaging experience, particularly with fMRI, is required for one position. Clinical assessment experience, including SCID and Timeline Follow Back, is required for the other. Some familiarity with or interest in cardiovascular physiology and heart rate variability biofeedback is preferred. Application must include: · A cover letter, no more than two pages, to demonstrate how your knowledge and experience are matched to this position. · A current CV of education, professional and research experience, publication background, and the names and emails of three references. Please send materials by February 28, 2016 to: Stephanie Peeters Senior Administrative Assistant ADDRESS: Center of Alcohol Studies Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey 607 Allison Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-8001 EMAIL: snsmith(a)rutgers.edu =============================== A prospective, longitudinal birth mother-offspring cohort study (Growing Up in Singapore Towards Health Outcomes; GUSTO) study provides a unique opportunity to investigate 1) gene-environment influence on cognitive and brain development; 2) the regulation of epigenetic memory on the development of children’s mental health. GUSTO establishes the intense assessment of cognition, emotional, brain imaging, genetics and epigenetics from infancy onwards and environmental measurements, such as maternal mental health, nutrition, social support etc. We are now seeking researchers who are interested in mining GUSTO data at all levels. We aim to identify new markers characterizing environmental, genetic, and cognitive factors and hence explaining epigenetic markers and children’s mental health. The position includes opportunities to apply novel computational models to high-dimensional data sets and develop expertise in 'big data' analysis in neuroscience and to work within a highly multidisciplinary research setting that includes expertise in bioinformatics and biostatistics. Requirements: · PhD on cognitive or affective neuroscience, neuroimaging, bioinformatics, computer vision, statistics, or relevant field · Experience on mining high dimensional data · Good communication in English language · English writing skill is a must. If you are interested in the jobs listed above, please send your CV to Associate Prof. Anqi QIU Department of Biomedical Engineering National University of Singapore Email: bieqa(a)nus.edu.sg Phone: +(65) 6516 7002 ============================= Postdoctoral Researcher – Mindfulness training and real-time neurofeedback. Center for Mindfulness, UMass Medical School, MA USA The Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to conduct research aimed at furthering our scientific understanding of mindfulness meditation and the extent to which real time neurofeedback can track and augment mindfulness training. This is an exciting opportunity to participate in projects using real-time source-estimated EEG neurofeedback in conjunction with fMRI. We have recently identified biologically plausible brain targets of meditation (e.g. Brewer et al PNAS 2011, Garrison Neuroimage 2013), and are currently running an NIH-funded trial to examine whether neurofeedback from specific brain regions associated with meditation can augment mindfulness acquisition. The successful candidate will contribute to these efforts by providing analysis of current datasets and developing her/his own mentored projects. The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team of physicians, clinicians and basic scientists. The successful candidate should be creative, able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary group with physicians, psychologists, engineers and computer scientists, and should have excellent communication skills in English and good writing skills. Experience with fMRI techniques and analysis is important, and an interest in therapeutic applications of meditation and mindfulness training is preferred. Preferred Qualifications for this position include: • PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering or related field • Experience with fMRI analysis (FSL, AFNI, SPM etc.) • Experience with EEG application and analysis • Basic programming experience (C++, bash etc.) • A record of publication and/or conference presentations The qualified candidate could begin work as early as February 2016. Qualified candidates should submit their CV and three references to: Judson Brewer MD PhD (judson.brewer(a)umassmed.edu), Center for Mindfulness, UMASS Medical School. The Center for Mindfulness was founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, and now has over 20,000 graduates of its Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program (see http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/index.aspx for more details). Now housed in its own building, it has recently expanded to include core research facilities to bring together clinicians and scientists for truly collaborative basic and translational research. ======================== The Cognitive Neuroscience lab at the University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain welcomes applications for a two-year postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva position sponsored by the Spanish Government. We are looking for a researcher with experience in fMRI. Experience with other imaging modalities (EEG, DTI, MRS) is a strong plus. We have direct access to an EEG lab, as well as daily access to a GE 3T MRI scanner in the university hospital. Other imaging modalities such as fNIRS and TMS are also available. Although the main research focus of our lab is on the cognitive neuroscience of language, a significant effort also involves improving analytical techniques in both EEG and fMRI. Deadline for the position is January 29, 2016. ***An important requirement for the position is that your PhD degree is obtained between January 2011 and December 2015.*** If you meet these requirements and want to be considered for the position, please send your CV to Niels Janssen (njanssen(a)ull.es). -- Niels Janssen Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory Institute of Biomedical Technologies Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands University of La Laguna Tenerife, Spain http://www.neurocog.ull.es/en ===================== Postdoctoral Position in Functional MRI University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles We would like to invite applications from bright researchers for one year Postdoctoral Fellow position starting from February, 2016 (or as soon as possible), with the possibility for two more years’ extension, based on satisfactory performance. Project details Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become a common non-invasive procedure to examine task-specific brain activity and to quantify functional connectivity at resting stage. The primary goal of this project is to develop, optimize existing tools in the lab, and apply them to model whole-brain functional connectivity, based on resting stage fMRI data, and examine brain fMRI signal responses to autonomic and other challenges using data collected from patients with heart failure and obstructive sleep apnea. Qualifications A PhD in mathematics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, neuroscience, or related field with background and research experience in functional MRI-related research in humans, especially in functional MRI data processing and MATLAB-based programming, reflected as data based publications, is required. Experience in MRI data acquisition and study design is also desirable. Excellent communication skills in English are essential. Environment Our lab is part of neuroscience community at UCLA, the largest neuroscience community in the nation, host a large number of neuroscientists (>500), who provide a resource for neuroanatomic, neuropathologic, neurophysiologic, neuropsychologic, and analytic support. The laboratory is immediately adjacent to the Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, which provides a significant resource in neuroimaging faculty (>28 faculty, both basic and clinical), software, and analytic support, and there are ample of opportunities to interact those scientists. Our lab uses a 3.0-Tesla (Siemens, Prisma) MRI scanner, located in the proximal Department of Radiology Research Laboratory, a unit devoted to research studies with on-site Ph.D.-level Siemens engineers. Appointment Terms and Salary The initial appointment would be for one year, with possibility for two more years’ extension, based on satisfactory performance. Salary and benefits would be based on UCLA norms with research experience. Application Procedure and Deadline UCLA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer (http://www.mednet.ucla.edu/), and all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. To be considered for this position, please send your CV and a cover letter to: Rajesh Kumar, PhD Email: rkumar(a)mednet.ucla.edu Rajesh Kumar, PhD Associate Professor Departments of Anesthesiology, Radiological Sciences, and Bioengineering David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095-1763, USA Tel: 310-206-1679, 6133 Fax: 310-825-2236 Email: rkumar(a)mednet.ucla.edu =============================== The Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4all: Models, Technology and Solutions for Diagnostics, Restoration and Support of Hearing” at the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (in collaboration with the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover and Leibniz Universität Hannover) is seeking to fill the position of a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Field of Auditory Neuroimaging in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The position is available from 1st of May 2016 until the end of the first funding period of the Cluster of Excellence (31st of October 2017). Payment is depending on previous experience (German TV-L E13, full time). The position is in principle suitable for part-time work. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the research goals of the cluster by participation in task group 3 "Functional characterization of the individual" within research area A "Improving diagnostics for better individualized treatment" (www.hearing4all.de). Candidates are expected to have an academic university degree in the field of psychology, neuroscience, physics or a related discipline and have shown their ability to perform excellent scientific work, demonstrated by the outstanding quality of their Doctorate/PhD research and a good publication record. We are seeking candidates with prior experience in neuroimaging techniques (e.g. fMRI, MRI, DTI), advanced analysis methods (e.g. functional or structural connectivity) and research experience in areas of auditory attention, audiovisual integration or auditory plasticity. Good programming skills (e.g. MATLAB) are of advantage. The candidate will have access to state-of-the-art brain imaging (MRI, NIRS, EEG and MEG), and computational facilities. The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of women in science. Therefore, female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given preference in cases of equal qualification. Handicapped applicants will be given preference if equally qualified. Please send your application including a cover letter, CV, list of potential referees, links to recent publications and copies of certificates for academic grades to Prof. Christiane Thiel, Department of Psychology, University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; (christiane.thieluni-oldenburg.de). Electronic applications (one pdf file) are preferred. The application deadline is 4th of February 2016. -- Dr. Sebastian Puschmann Biological Psychology Department of Psychology European Medical School Carl von Ossietzky Universität 26111 Oldenburg (Germany) phone: +49-441-798-3931 office: A7-032 (Haarentor campus) web: www.uni-oldenburg.de/cogneuro =======================