Postdoctoral Research Associate I (Multiple Positions)

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available within the Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Laboratory directed by William “Scott” Killgore, PhD. The goal of the SCAN Lab is to contribute to the understanding of the neurobiology underlying emotional functioning, resilience, and human performance, and how these systems may be affected by various stresses (including sleep loss, psychological trauma, and mild traumatic brain injury) and the effectiveness of targeted treatments and interventions for restoring optimal functioning and performance.

Our work explores the crossroads of several important brain systems involved in motivation, cognition, and emotion. Using such advanced techniques as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), structural neuroimaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS), cognitive neuropsychological assessment, and ambulatory monitoring of sleep and circadian rhythmicity, we are currently studying the neurocircuitry underlying cognitive and emotional intelligence, social cognition, decision-making, risk-taking, resilience, sleep and circadian rhythms, light exposure, and appetitive processes. Our lab studies these systems in healthy individuals under various conditions (e.g., stress, sleep loss, cognitive load) and in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mTBI.

The lab currently seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate with strong interest and background in neuroimaging analysis to contribute to these studies. The neuroimaging Postdoctoral Research Associate will work alongside Dr. Killgore to analyze and publish research findings. This position requires onsite work with no remote option.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Process and analyze fMRI, resting state connectivity, DTI, and behavioral data.
• Create and refine MRI scanner sequences for multiple projects.
• Conduct statistical analysis of behavioral, psychophysiological, and neuroimaging data.
• Write protocols, reports, publications, and grants.
• Oversee overall study coordination including subject recruitment, research technician training and education.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and other venues.
• Travel and assist with aspects of project that are conducted at remote sites, as necessary.
• Design study materials and creating computerized stimulus tasks for functional neuroimaging.
• Administer, score, and interpret emotional, social, personality, and psychophysiological assessments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively. 

• Ph.D in neuropsychology, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging and/or related field, with a prior background in human neuroimaging analysis is required.
• History of human-subjects research on neuroimaging projects relating to mild TBI, PTSD, stress, sleep deprivation, resilience, emotional intelligence, cognition, and/or behavioral neuroscience.

• Background in human neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI, DTI, VBM, PET, connectivity, DCM, Granger causality) methods.
• Strong background in computational methods used in human neuroimaging (e.g., Matlab, UNIX, LINUX, C/C++, SPM12, AFNI, Freesurfer, FSL, TrackVis, CONN).
• Strong peer-reviewed publication record in the areas of human functional or structural neuroimaging.
• Demonstrated experience and exceptional skill in experimental design, human-subjects research, quantitative methods, and statistical analysis, and the ability to carry out independent data manipulation and sophisticated statistical analyses using standard software packages (e.g., SPSS, R, STATA, BMDP, JMP, SAS).
• Demonstrated experience and skill in processing and analysis of fMRI, resting state connectivity, DTI, and behavioral data.
• Demonstrated experience and skill in creating MRI scanner sequences.
• Demonstrated fluent mastery of written English.