Postdoctoral Scholar – Deep Brain Stimulation for Psychiatric Illness - Minneapolis, United States - University of Minnesota Medical School - Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Description

The Translational NeuroEngineering Laboratory (TNEL) in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry has a multi-year Federally funded opening for a postdoctoral scholar working at the intersection of neuroscience, electrophysiology, human behavior, and clinical brain stimulation. 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

The funded projects involve collection and analysis of invasive (local field potential) and non-invasive (EEG) brain recordings from patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe mental illness and, in rare cases, chronic pain. There are some ancillary opportunities to engage with patients receiving other neuromodulation interventions, including vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and other experimental invasive approaches. We are a relatively high-volume site and have multiple NIH and industry-sponsored clinical trials active at any given time.

The principal job responsibilities are:

 (30%) Analyze and summarize neurophysiologic and behavioral data in time, time-frequency, and connectivity domains, employing a variety of mathematical and statistical approaches.

 (10%) Collect invasive and non-invasive physiologic data from human participants, in conjunction with neurostimulation. This includes maintenance of experimental records with strong attention to detail and completeness.

 (10%) Design and/or rework experimental paradigms to maximize the quality and signal content of collected data.

 (10%) Maintain familiarity with the scientific literature in psychiatric neurostimulation to provide context for experimental plans,

 (10%) Prepare scientific reports, manuscripts, and material for grant proposals summarizing experimental results and communicating their importance.

 (10%) Maintain necessary immunizations, training, documentation, and other requirements needed to compassionately and appropriately work with patients living with mental illnesses.

 (20%) Hire, train, and supervise bachelors-level research technicians to assist with all of the above.

Depending on your interests, there are opportunities to gain training and experience with:

 Computational modeling and analysis of complex human behavior

 Real-time brain signal interpretation and closed-loop intervention

 Clinical hardware and software development

 Novel signal analysis and modeling paradigms

 The clinical neurobiology of mental illness and decision-making deficits

 Regulatory pathways (FDA, IRB, etc.) related to human invasive research, including being involved in FDA interactions if desired. Many of these skills could form the basis for independent work and a future career. UMN has multiple training and seed grant programs to support that transition to independence.

Our laboratory includes both animal and human research components, and you will interact daily with other neuroscientists and engineers working at the cutting edge of brain stimulation. There are also opportunities for collaboration and networking with clinicians, basic neuroscientists, and engineers. Our lab is very focused on mentoring and developing junior personnel, and the PI will work with you to ensure that you are submitting competitive applications for fellowships and other grants on the pathway to independence. We also have strong industry relations for researchers interested in careers outside academia, and we are willing to create tracks to staff scientist positions for candidates who wish to remain in academia but not pursue PI-level roles.