Post-Doctoral Associate - Research Scientist - FREUD - Physiologic Biomarkers of Psychiatric Illness

The Translational NeuroEngineering Laboratory (TNEL) in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry has a multi-year funded opening for a post-doctoral Researcher in the area of biomarkers discovery for psychiatric illness. Our laboratory develops technologies to reverse the circuit impairments that cause mental illness, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and addictions. Our work is regularly published in high-impact clinical, engineering, and scientific journals. More information is available at http://www.tnelab.org/ . This specific position will be working on a project to use standardized stimuli (psychophysical tasks), electroencephalography, and other forms of physiologic recording to detect when patients are experiencing suicidal thinking or other severe psychiatric symptoms.

Our laboratory includes both animal and human research components, and you will interact almost daily with other neuroscientists and engineers. There are extremely broad opportunities for collaboration and networking with clinicians, basic neuroscientists, and engineers. This is a patient-facing role, as most research participants will have some symptoms.

This particular position is on a DARPA project, and will require a higher than usual level of independence and initiative. On the other hand, it has a higher than usual probability of yielding high-impact publications and/or patentable inventions.

Job Responsibilities/Duties:

*(20%) Collect physiologic data from human participants performing standardized psychological tasks.
*(20%) Lead set-up and maintenance of experimental rigs, including troubleshooting of acquisition software and hardware as needed.
*(10%) Assist with task and experiment design and redesign to maximize the quality and signal content of collected data.
*(10%) Maintain experimental records with strong attention to detail and completeness.
*(10%) Analyze and summarize experimental results, in formats suitable for internal review and scientific dissemination in peer-reviewed forums. This will include both written and graphical communication.
*(10%) Maintain compliance with all applicable governmental and institutional regulations, including drafting of formal protocols for approval and maintenance of relevant records.
*(20%) Hire, train, and supervise bachelors-level research technicians to assist with all of the above.

Required Qualifications:

*A doctoral degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field. "Relevant" is broad. Psychology, neuroscience, engineering, cognitive science, and many other disciplines could qualify.
*Strong programming skills. MATLAB or Python is essential. R would be helpful, as would JavaScript, but they are not required.
*Prior experience with physiologic recordings in humans, resulting in peer-reviewed publications.
*Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Much of our work requires explaining complex technical concepts to non-domain-experts. This job in particular involves coordinating between multiple laboratories.
*Evidence of substantial capability for independent work, problem-solving, and initiative-taking. This will be directly solicited from references.
*Interpersonal skills appropriate for collaboration in a very multidisciplinary and highly diverse environment.

Additional qualifications of high interest would be:

*Prior experience specifically in EEG or other neuroscience work with psychiatric populations.
*Prior training or experience in machine learning analyses.
*Prior work in parametric modeling or latent-variable models of behavior
*Experience with experimental or clinical brain stimulation.

The Translational NeuroEngineering Laboratory (TNEL) in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry has a multi-year funded opening for a post-doctoral Researcher in the area of biomarkers discovery for psychiatric illness. Our laboratory develops technologies to reverse the circuit impairments that cause mental illness, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and addictions. Our work is regularly published in high-impact clinical, engineering, and scientific journals. More information is available at http://www.tnelab.org/ . This specific position will be working on a project to use standardized stimuli (psychophysical tasks), electroencephalography, and other forms of physiologic recording to detect when patients are experiencing suicidal thinking or other severe psychiatric symptoms.

Our laboratory includes both animal and human research components, and you will interact almost daily with other neuroscientists and engineers. There are extremely broad opportunities for collaboration and networking with clinicians, basic neuroscientists, and engineers. This is a patient-facing role, as most research participants will have some symptoms.

This particular position is on a DARPA project, and will require a higher than usual level of independence and initiative. On the other hand, it has a higher than usual probability of yielding high-impact publications and/or patentable inventions.

We are always interested in applications from candidates from non-traditional or underrepresented backgrounds, and who may not have had all of the exposures/training mentioned above, but who are eager to learn new skills. UMN is committed to reversing historical inequities, and you will find a welcoming and supportive community here. We are similarly able to support candidates who require visa sponsorship to work in the US, provided that they are legally permitted to perform all job functions described above.

Pay Range: The University follows NIH guidelines. Below is the salary range, depending on education/qualifications/experience:

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Please also send a single PDF of cover letter (with clear statement of relevant background/interests), CV including publication list, and contact information for three references to Alik Widge, MD, PhD at awidge@umn.edu.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

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