Description

The Bigos Lab in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Baltimore, Maryland) is pleased to announce an opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow. The Fellow will contribute to a portfolio of clinical studies aimed at developing brain biomarkers for neuropsychiatric and cognitive drug development, under the mentorship of Dr. Kristin Bigos. The position will focus two NIH-funded studies, 1) “Determining the relationship between NAAG and memory deficits in schizophrenia in mid- to late-life” funded by the NIH R01MH137602, and 2) the clinical trial “Multimodal Brain Imaging of the Neural Effects of Methylphenidate in Patients With ADHD” NCT04781972 (NIH R01MH133453). Other studies involve using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies, including functional MRI and MR spectroscopy, to understand the role of drugs, targets, and pathways involved in other psychiatric and cognitive disorders, including schizophrenia and mild cognitive impairment. 

The Postdoctoral Fellow will perform work under the supervision of Dr. Bigos and will have access to exceptional resources to: 1) gain further training in brain imaging and pharmacology research design and execution; 2) explore complementary research contributions; and 3) gain valuable experience in publishing, grant-writing, and project management for the next stage of their research career.

The primary responsibility of the Fellow will be to assist in the design of brain imaging studies, collection and analyses of brain imaging data, and to collaborate with the various members of the research team. Further, the Fellow will assist the Principal Investigator to carry out an array of activities in support of the research program, including participation in manuscript development and conference presentations, and assist in grant development for ongoing and new research activities.

The position provides salary and benefits consistent with NIH postdoctoral fellows, and JHU Post-Doctoral Association requirements.

Requirements

Required Qualifications 

• A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree (or close to completion) in Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology, Computational Sciences, or a related discipline from an accredited academic program.
• Experience in clinical research, including subject recruitment and clinical assessments, including cognitive assessments.
• The ability to work independently and with a research team of diverse backgrounds (e.g. post-doctoral fellows, clinical fellows, graduate and medical students, nurses, MR techs, research associates). A commitment to supporting a welcoming, affirming, and inclusive lab. Members of underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to manage research projects and lead diverse teams, including time-management and leadership skills.
• Potential for excellence in research as demonstrated through academic study or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• A background in MR neuroimaging techniques, particularly in task-based functional MRI, and acquiring data at high-fields (7T and above), including MRS, structural MRI, flair imaging, and other advanced imaging technologies. This includes development and editing of task stimuli scripts (both Presentation and E-Prime) and analyses of imaging data and behavioral data.
• Experience working with patients with mental illness, including those with a wide range of behavioral presentations and cognitive challenges.
• Experience with administering cognitive assessments, especially in children and older adults.
• Experience with genetic data, including whole genome chip data, and genetic analysis software including R.