Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neurorehabilitation, Neurophysiology, and Neuroimaging Research

The Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation (TCRCSS) at Kessler Foundation (West Orange, New Jersey, USA) is recruiting postdoctoral fellows to conduct Neurorehabilitation, Neurophysiology, and Neuroimaging Research. Applications are being accepted for fellowships funded by the center’s research grants and are expected to last for a two-year term. Qualifying candidates must have an earned doctorate degree in clinical neuroscience, rehabilitation, human neuroscience / neurophysiology, or a related field. Strong candidates will have prior experience in performing clinical research studies using neurophysiology and neuroimaging methods, as well as a history of publication and presentation of original research.

Research at the TCRCSS applies electrophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques and behavioral assessment, combined with advanced signal processing and analysis to study the effects of neuromodulatory therapies for the recovery from neurological impairments, such as after a spinal cord injury (SCI). The successful candidate will work on ongoing research that uses the research methods to better understand and treat sensorimotor-related impairments following SCI. To this end, our research uses a multimodality approach that includes neurophysiology (TMS, EMG recording, cardiovascular monitoring), neuroimaging (fMRI, MRI, fNIRS, EEG), eye tracking, and motion analysis. The TCRCSS and Kessler Foundation have access to research-dedicated 3 Tesla MRI scanner, state-of-the-art mobile imaging equipment (EEG, fNIRS), invasive- and non-invasive stimulation technologies (TMS, rTMS, tDCS, FES, spinal cord stimulators), gait analysis platforms, instrumented treadmill with virtual reality (C-Mill), Neurocom Balance Platform, biodex, and is a leader in powered exoskeleton assisted rehabilitation therapy. The successful applicant will also be expected to develop his/her own mentored research project. He/she will work on various aspects of research projects from conception (e.g., study design/formulation, grant-writing, IRB protocol submission, etc.), through dissemination (conference presentation and manuscript publication).

Requirements include:

• Background and experience in neurophysiology methods (TMS, EMG recording), analysis, and interpretation;
• Background and experience in functional and/or structural MRI image processing (fMRI, DTI), fNIRS data recording and analysis, and ideally with previous experience in connectivity analysis (resting state functional connectivity, effective connectivity, graph theory-based analysis, diffusion and tractography analysis)
• Previous experience in clinical and/or rehabilitation research. A previous experience with SCI or other motor-related disorders affected population is a plus;
• Experience in programming, preferentially Matlab; Knowledge of statistical data analysis; Excellent written communication skills.

Preferred experience/qualifications:

• Research studies in human subjects, and clinical population;
• History of publication and presentation of original research;
• TMS/EMG/fMRI/fNIRS data collection and analysis;
• Neuromuscular rehabilitation; brain and muscle electrophysiology;
• Image-processing software such as FSL, AFNI, SPM, EEGLAB, Brainstorm;
• Biomedical/Bioengineering Instrumentation experience.

All fellows participate in an extensive training curriculum and didactic offered by Kessler Foundation and the academic Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (RNJMS), Rutgers University in New Jersey, with which the postdoctoral fellow will be affiliated. Please consult our website for more information about Kessler Foundation, the TCRCSS (https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/tim-and-caroline-reynolds-center-spinal-stimulation), and the Fellowship program (https://kesslerfoundation.org/researchabout-our-research/postdoctoral-fellowship-program). 

Initial and informal inquiries about the fellowship may be directed by email to Dr. Gail Forrest at GForrest@kesslerfoundation.org and Dr. Nabila Brihmat, at NBrihmat@kesslerfoundation.org. Full applications should include a letter of application, Curriculum Vitae and one-page statement of research interests. Candidates should include letters of recommendation from professional associates to be mailed to the Project Director (address above).