Post-doc Fellow in Neurotechnology & Ethics (Start Date: Summer 2024)

Philadelphia, PA         ·          Full time

Post-doc Fellow in Neurotechnology & Ethics (Start Date: Summer 2024)

The Wexler Lab at the Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking a full-time postdoctoral fellow in neurotechnology and ethics.

The fellow will work on an innovative year-long pilot project funded by the Dana Foundation that will explore novel methods of embedding ethics within the private neurotechnology industry. The fellow will be partially embedded with a neurotechnology industry partner and will devote their efforts to an ethics research project co-developed with our industry partner. This partial embedding could include participation in scoping or overseeing experiments, consulting on technical demonstrations of device prototypes, joint discussions with the industry partners, and/or semi-regular visits to the industry partner’s offices.

The Wexler Lab is an exciting, highly collaborative, and interdisciplinary research lab focused on the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging technologies. Ongoing research activities include collaborations across the Perelman School of Medicine, the larger Penn community, and external institutions.

The post-doctoral fellow will be able to participate fully in the life of the Department at Penn, which is among the world’s leading centers of bioethics research and teaching. The fellow will have full access to the intellectual resources of the Penn community. There is the potential for the fellow to obtain core training in bioethics by participating in a weekly Penn bioethics seminar.

This is a 12-month position with a start date of summer 2024.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctoral-level degree in a relevant field, such as neural engineering, neuroscience, bioethics, sociology, or Science, Technology, and Society. PhDs are preferred; JDs and MDs with relevant experience and/or training will be considered.
• Experience or interest in applying ethics to real – world situations
• Excellent writing and communications skills.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience and training in a neurotechnology-related field, as neuroscience, neural engineering, or medical device development
• Experience and interest in practical or applied ethics.

Applicants who have experience in one area (neurotechnology or ethics) and a demonstrated record of interest in the other are encouraged to apply.

Participation in a collaborative team setting is required, and candidates should demonstrate a high level of independence, self-motivation, and excellent organization and time management

Skills.

Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills are preferred as the candidate is expected to work closely with collaborators within academia and industry.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should email awex@pennmedicine.upenn.edu with the following:

• CV
• Personal statement (two pages maximum) that includes
  • the applicant’s interest in obtaining postdoctoral training in bioethics and in engaging closely with a neurotechnology industry partner;
  • how the applicant would approach an ethicist-industry collaboration;
  • an example of the applicant’s ability to be proactive in tackling ambiguity and new projects.
• Writing sample (for which the applicant was lead or sole author; 20 pages maximum)
• The names and email addresses of 2-3 individuals who would be willing to provide a recommendation letter.

Applications will be accepted through Feb 20,2024 or until the position is filled.