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Two Postdoctoral Positions in Neural Mechanisms of Spasticity and Recovery after Stroke

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Two NIH-funded postdoctoral scholar positions are available in the Sensorimotor Plasticity Lab at the University of Florida:

 

Position #1: Neural Mechanisms of Spasticity after Stroke (humans)

This position is dedicated to studying neural, behavioral, and electrophysiological mechanisms of spasticity after stroke in human patients. The project involves working with stroke patients, simultaneous Spinal cord-Brain fMRI and DTI using advanced neuroimaging/analysis methods, EMG recordings and nerve stimulation, and robotic and clinical assessments.

Qualifications: The successful applicant must have a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Physiology, Psychology or related field. Strong computational skills/statistics, computer programming, and extensive experience with neuroimaging analysis software (FSL, SPM, etc.) are required. Prior experience with EMG recording/nerve stimulation is a plus. Prior experience in working with patients with movement disorders is desirable. Strong understanding of sensorimotor system is desirable. We are seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic, and collaborative candidates.

 

 

Position #2: Neural Mechanisms of Motor Recovery after Stroke (rodents)

This position entails studying neural and behavioral mechanisms of motor recovery in mouse stroke models. The project involves cutting-edge techniques in rodent neuroimaging (fMRI, optogenetic stimulation, calcium imaging), behavioral shaping, stereotactic surgery, and data analysis.

Qualifications: The successful applicant must have a PhD degree in Neuroscience, Physiology, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology or related field. Extensive prior experience in working with rodents, electrophysiology or calcium imaging, and wet lab experience is required. Expertise in rodent neuroimaging (such as MRI acquisition/analysis) is a plus. Prior experience in behavioral shaping is a plus. Experience in mouse models of movement disorders is desirable. Strong understanding of neuroscience/sensorimotor system is desirable. We are seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic, and collaborative candidates.

 

Start date: Summer 2023 (negotiable)

 

Applicants must send their CV (including contact information of two references; will be contacted if the candidate is shortlisted), and a cover letter outlining their background and career goals, and their suitability for the position (Position #1 or #2) to: svahdat@ufl.edu.

 

 

About Sensorimotor Plasticity Lab, Director: Dr. Shahab Vahdat, http://www.vahdatlab.org/

Our LAB AIM is to push the boundaries of science in neuroplasticity forward, and help stroke patients to regain their lost motor function better, and faster!

Our END GOAL is to deliver an FDA-approved neurostimulation-based treatment to improve sensory-motor function in stroke patients!
Our SCIENCE: Stroke does not only disrupt local brain function, but it also results in long-term changes to spinal cord circuits; some are beneficial, some maladaptive! We are interested in understanding how the brain and spinal cord circuits interact and reorganize to support functional recovery in major motor impairments after stroke, such as, force control deficits and spasticity!

Our Approach:  In humans, we use simultaneous brain-spinal cord fMRI to characterize neural pathways between the brain and spinal cord, and how they change poststroke. We use this knowledge to guide optogenetic stimulation of genetically-defined neuronal populations to retrain the motor circuit and induce desired neuroplasticity after stroke! In rodents, we use optogenetics, calcium imaging and  fMRI for cell-type specific stimulation and visualization of neural circuits. We design and build MR-compatible systems for fMRI in behaving mice to study brain and spinal cord reorganization following stroke and motor learning.

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About Sensorimotor Plasticity Lab, Director: Dr. Shahab Vahdat, http://www.vahdatlab.org/

 

Our LAB AIM is to push the boundaries of science in neuroplasticity forward, and help stroke patients to regain their lost motor function better, and faster!

Our END GOAL is to deliver an FDA-approved neurostimulation-based treatment to improve sensory-motor function in stroke patients!
Our SCIENCE: Stroke does not only disrupt local brain function, but it also results in long-term changes to spinal cord circuits; some are beneficial, some maladaptive! We are interested in understanding how the brain and spinal cord circuits interact and reorganize to support functional recovery in major motor impairments after stroke, such as, force control deficits and spasticity!

Our Approach:  In humans, we use simultaneous brain-spinal cord fMRI to characterize neural pathways between the brain and spinal cord, and how they change poststroke. We use this knowledge to guide optogenetic stimulation of genetically-defined neuronal populations to retrain the motor circuit and induce desired neuroplasticity after stroke! In rodents, we use optogenetics, calcium imaging and  fMRI for cell-type specific stimulation and visualization of neural circuits. We design and build MR-compatible systems for fMRI in behaving mice to study brain and spinal cord reorganization following stroke and motor learning.

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