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JOB OPPORTUNITY

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Center For Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience at University of California, Los Angeles

 

Background: 

The Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience in the Division of Digestive Diseases at the University of California Los Angeles is seeking a full time Post-Doctoral Research Fellow for an R01-funded project studying the brain-gut microbiome mechanisms of action underlying obesity. The Center is a multidisciplinary team conducting clinical, translational and basic research with human populations. The postdoctoral fellow will work directly with Dr. Arpana “Annie” Gupta, PhD and other faculty collaborators. 

This project uses multimodal MRI sequences combined with measures of the gut microbiome and dimensional neuropsychiatric behavioral measures (i.e. tasks, questionnaires, heart rate variability, digital phenotyping, cognitive and clinical measures) to study structural and functional circuit dynamics in obesity.  

There will be opportunities to develop translational and clinical neuroscience research skills (e.g. target discovery, individualized treatment development and biomarker/predictor development), in addition to analysis methods and pipelines to address basic and pathophysiological systems biology questions. There will be many opportunities to lead high impact publications starting on day one. We will be working with existing unique datasets in addition to creating new ones. Extensive mentorship will be provided to facilitate the transition to an independent research career. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Post-Doctoral Fellow’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:   

  1. Develop longitudinal multimodal MRI data analysis streams (functional connectivity, task-based fMRI, diffusion tractography and volumetrics). 
  2. Model complex datasets including imaging, gut microbiome, inflammation, behavioral and clinical data. 
  3. Coordinate the acquisition of multimodal brain data working with a team of research assistants. 
  4. Be able to contribute to manuscripts, grants and publish 

 

Qualifications: 

  1. Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Psychology, Engineering, Epidemiology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field. 
  2. Strong proficiency and independence with large data analysis platforms (such as neuroimaging or microbiome platforms), multivariate modeling strategies and network connectivity analyses. 
  3. Established quantitative and statistical skills, including strong programming skills and comfort with diverse computing environments. Comfortable using R.  
  4. Background in systems/cognitive neuroscience, neuroanatomy or psychological/clinical constructs. 
  5. A demonstrated capacity to write first author publications. 
  6. Great writing skills, motivated and driven to publish.  

 

Additional Qualifications: 

  1. Connectomics network analysis and machine learning modeling confer a very significant advantage. 
  2. Management/coding of neuroimaging databases (XNAT or others) preferred. 

 

Additional Information: 

This is a 2 to 5-year term position with great opportunities for training in human systems biology, translational/clinical applications and diverse integrated methodologies. Applications can be submitted via https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF06384 

If you have any questions please email Dr. Arpana Gupta (AGupta@mednet.ucla.edu) and include a CV, cover letter and names of three references. 

  

Expected start date: Summer/Fall 2021