Postdoctoral research fellow for multi-modal neuroimaging at MGH/HMS

The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital is offering two postdoctoral positions based on NIH/NSF-funded projects focusing on brain functional mapping in rodent models in the Translational Neuroimaging and Neural Control (TNNC) Laboratory. These positions are open now until filled.

Potential candidates will be considered based on the following research directions:

Specify circuit dysfunction and vasomotion impairment in animal models with the degenerative disease or vascular dementia. The candidate will lead the project to apply multi-modal neuroimaging tools (e.g. fMRI, fiber photometry, multi-photon imaging, and EEG) to verify the cellular and vascular specific contribution the altered brain dynamic changes in the transgenic mouse models with cognitive impairments.   

Apply multi-modal neuroimaging methods to interpret the consciousness state changes of comatose rat models, and develop effective intervention methods to facilitate the coma reemergence.  The candidate will lead the project to monitor the coma induction and progression, as well as the functional recovery by deep brain optogenetic stimulation of selected subcortical functional nuclei. Similarly, the candidate will perform EEG, fiber photometry and fMRI to characterize a variety of brain dynamic signal changes in a rat model. 

Develop an advanced optical imaging device (e.g. MR-compatible miniscope) for brain dynamic signal recordings, e.g., Ca²⁺, Glutamate, dopamine with simultaneous fMRI in awake rodents.    The candidate will collaborate with leading optical imaging labs to implement two-photon imaging and fMRI to investigate the neuronal and vascular dynamics of transgenic mouse models.

A Ph.D. (or equivalent) in neuroscience, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, computer science, medical physics, or a related field is required; however, strong candidates with other scientific backgrounds will also be considered.

Candidates with strong computational/programming skills and experience in animal surgeries and electrophysiological recordings are preferred. Also, we welcome candidates with experience in multi-photon optical imaging and fiber photometry in animal models (rodents) to apply for this position, who can be trained to learn how to perform animal fMRI and perform fMRI data analysis.

We welcome candidates with high motivation, curiosity, and scientific maturity. The candidate should have strong teamwork skills and be flexible for night or weekend imaging time shifts.       

Please send your CV and a cover letter to describe your background, interests, and research goals to Dr. Xin Yu by e-mail: xyu9@mgh.harvard.edu.  Please include “Postdoc Application for Multi-modal Neuroimaging” in the subject line of your email.