Post Doctoral Fellow, Precision Health Research Core

The Precision Health Research Core at Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH), UMSL

Under the direction of Dr. Jacob Bolzenius, the post-doctoral fellow will conduct research and analysis to support execution and dissemination of research activities as part of the Precision Health Research Core at Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH). The individual will facilitate the execution of a two-year project awarded by the National Institutes of Health together with researchers at Yale, Stanford, Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins, and UCSD, among others. The position will be focused on identifying and characterizing phenotypes of HIV discovered using multimodal biomedical data sets. Particular emphasis will be placed on neurocognitive and neuroimaging outcomes, including data quality assurance, processing of neuroimaging data, implementation of relational databases, application of statistical analysis methods, data visualization, and dissemination of study results. Programmatic experience is desired, particularly using python, R, and/or bash. Experience with Freesurfer and/or FSL software for imaging outcomes is also desired. Work will involve integration and harmonization of several large independent data sets with unique characteristics into a central, unified data repository with clearly defined structure, and the research activities stemming from analysis of this data set.

The individual selected for this position must be able to integrate and implement complex ideas relating to generation and analysis of biomedical data to effectively communicate with the team and its diverse set of collaborators (e.g., virologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, program managers). In addition to assistance with generation and organization of multimodal data sets, emphasis will also be placed on various means of disseminating findings to internal collaborators (e.g., presentations, working groups) and to the field at large (e.g., manuscripts, conference presentations). The individual in this position will receive postdoctoral mentoring by Dr. Bolzenius and the rest of Dr. Robert Paul's Precision Health Research Core to achieve research goals.

This is a remote position based in St. Louis, MO. Applicants from other regions are welcome given the ability to attend regularly scheduled meetings during the normal work day (8am-5pm Central U.S. time).

Responsibilities:

• Provide support for ongoing harmonization and analysis of multimodal biomedical data
• Carry out generation of neuroimaging outcomes via use of specialized software suites (e.g., Freesurfer, FSL)
• Contribute to the development of standardized programmatic methods for generating data, harmonizing measurements, performing statistical tests, and visualizing results
• Meet regularly with internal and external members of the investigative study team to calibrate and direct further progress
• Communicate with investigators at collaborating institutions; determine appropriate methodological techniques for responding to questions of interest; communicate results to investigating researchers in writing and presentations
• Assist in quality assurance of data generated both in-house as well as data received from collaborating institutions, including recommendation of additional tests or modifications to improve data quality
• Assist with preparation of grant proposals and manuscripts with efforts to independently lead manuscripts strongly encouraged

Required qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Psychology, Neuroscience, or similar biomedical or social science area by start of the appointment.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Knowledge of neuroanatomy, neurobiology, and/or neurophysiology in the context of brain disorders
• Understanding of neuroimaging techniques, especially magnetic resonance imaging
• Understanding of cognitive assessment methods, ideally via prior administration experience
• Familiarity with developing programmatic methods for standardized generation and execution of research efforts
• Demonstrated skills with regard to research conceptualization/design, statistical analysis, data visualization, and dissemination
• Outstanding ability to communicate complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills to consult with research collaborator
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skill
• Experience or capacity to work with complex biobehavioral data
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high caliber products for multiple ongoing projects on time

Applicants must combine all application materials (cover letter, resume, and list of three references with contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment. Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.).

Posted until filled

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.