Postdoctoral Fellow at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and the Psychiatric Neuroimaging Division of the Psychiatry Department at Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA and Harvard Medical School
Position Description: Clinical/Cognitive Neuroscience Research
Project: Multimodal neuroimaging studies of sleep and memory
PI: Dara S. Manoach, Ph.D.
We are seeking a T32-eligible (citizen or permanent resident) postdoctoral fellow to participate in studies of the role of sleep in memory consolidation and how these processes go awry in neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and pediatric epilepsy. Our research has linked cognitive deficits to specific heritable mechanisms (sleep spindles and other sleep oscillations) and we are evaluating pharmacological and non-invasive brain stimulation interventions to enhance sleep oscillations and their coordination to improve memory. This basic and clinical research program uses state-of-the art tools including high density EEG, MEG, DWI, functional connectivity MRI, fMRI, intracranial and behavioral studies. We are seeking someone to participate in these foundation and NIMH-funded investigations who is familiar with cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging/neurophysiology methodology (particularly functional and structural MRI), and data analysis, and is interested in developing clinical research questions and optimizing analysis streams tailored to the study aims and populations. New approaches and ideas are encouraged, as are independent projects that dovetail with current studies. The position requires working closely with the PI, labmates, and collaborators to design studies, acquire data, interpret findings, write papers, and develop, improve, and apply data analytic techniques. Training in clinical research and in the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of neuroimaging/neurophysiology data will be provided.
Requirements: PhD (or MD) in neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline and a strong research background are required. Ideal candidates would have extensive experience in MRI data analysis and clinical training. The following are also beneficial: a background in computational neuroscience and/or signal processing, cognitive neuroscience, experimental/clinical psychology, and sleep; proficiency in MATLAB/Python; and experience in task design and analysis for cognitive experiments.
Interested applicants should email: (a) CV, (b) statement of post-doctoral and career goals, (c) writing sample (e.g., a published manuscript), and (d) letters and/or contact information for three references to Dara.Manoach@mgh.harvard.edu. Stipend levels are in line with experience and NIH. A two-year commitment is required.