Postdoctoral Scholar – Neurology

Los Angeles, CA              ·            Full time

Postdoctoral Scholar – Neurology

• Job #: JPF08629
• Neurology / David Geffen School Of Medicin / UCLA

Position Overview

Salary range: Level 0 (0 – 11 months) $54,540 monthly $4,545.00 T023, Grade L0
Level 1 (12 – 23 months) $56,712 monthly $4,726.00 T023, Grade L1
Level 2 (24 – 35 months)$58,608 monthly $4,884.00 T023, Grade L2
Level 3 (36 – 47 months) $60,780 monthly $5,065.00 T023, Grade L3
Level 4 (48 – 59 months) $63,036 monthly $5,253.00 T023, Grade L4
Level 5 (60 – 71 months) $65,292 monthly $5,441.00 T023, Grade L5

Review timeline: Candidates will be reviewed August

Application Window

Open date: July 7, 2023

Next review date: Thursday, Aug 31, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Sep 8, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Description

The Department of Neurology, at the University of California, Los Angeles invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Position.

We seek a highly motivated individual to join a multidisciplinary, translational research team that uses personalized neuromodulation to investigate and enhance recovery from brain injury. The laboratory is located within the Reed Neurological Research Center under the direction of Dr. Kevin Bickart.

The appointee will have the opportunity to lead an unprecedented DOD-funded and IRB-approved clinical trial using MRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting frontoamygdala circuitry to improve chronic symptoms after concussion. In this role, the appointee will be able to first-author several planned and their own publications, immerse themself at one of the leading institutions for neuroscience in the world, while exercising skills in computational neuroscience, neuroimaging, statistics, and writing. The appointee will also have the opportunity to strengthen their leadership and collaboration skills as we have several undergraduate and medical student RAs and work amongst a massive multidisciplinary and translational team affiliated with UCLA’s BrainSPORT Program, Brain Injury Research Center, Brain Mapping Center, and Neuromodulation Division including leading specialists in neurotrauma (e.g., Dr. Chris Giza), neuromodulation (e.g., Dr. Andy Leuchter), neuroimaging (Dr. Roger Woods), neuropsychology (Dr. Bob Asarnow), occupational therapy, nutrition, and more.

Requirements:

Applicants must have:

• A recent doctorate degree in the field of biomedical sciences, neuroscience, neuropsychology, psychology, or related disciplines
• Experience in the following research areas: Neuroimaging, traumatic brain injury, behavioral or cognitive neuroscience, and neuropsychology
• Proficiency coding in at least 1 language, such as MATLAB, Python, or UNIX shell (Linux) (a willingness to learn is more important than knowledge of multiple languages)
• Experience with the following computing tasks:
  • Computational data analysis
  • Using high performance computing clusters, cloud computing platforms, and MRI repository servers
  • Writing, debugging, and organizing scripts and settings
  • Working with other investigators to ensure seamless operation of processing pipelines
• Proficiency with fMRI/MRI/DTI data processing and analysis using fMRIPrep, SPM, CONN, Nipype, and/or FSL.
• Strong potential for a career in research
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work in teams

Clinical trial overview:

Starting July/August, 90 adults with chronic concussion symptoms will be recruited from UCLA clinics for resting-state-guided TMS to a frontoamygdala circuit aimed at promoting recovery by mitigating fear avoidance behaviors and concussion symptoms. Participants will undergo neuropsychological assessments and MRIs at 5 timepoints over the course of treatment. The trial will be the first personalized and largest randomized, sham-controlled, blinded TMS study in concussion to date. It will also be the largest study with the most imaging timepoints to target an amygdala circuit. The implications of this work will reach far beyond concussion and brain injury into any disorder marked by amygdala or emotion dysregulation, ranging from post-traumatic stress, mood, and anxiety disorders to chronic pain, frontotemporal dementia, and functional neurologic disorders.

Annual Salary: $60,000 – $71,952. Salary based on experience.

Application procedure: Apply by submitting your application to our online RECRUIT system at https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF08629

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Department: https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/neurology

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• A recent doctorate degree in the field of biomedical sciences, neuroscience, neuropsychology, Psychology, Or Related Disciplines

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)
• Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate’s past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about how UCLA thinks about contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, please review our EDI Statement FAQ document.
• Reference check authorization release form – Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
• Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only) references of final candidates will be contacted

Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF08629

Help contact: jshinn@mednet.ucla.edu

Campus Information

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Please click here to apply.