Post Doctoral Fellow in Neurophysiology of Human Cognition

Description

Area: Neurophysiology of cognition

Duration: 2 Years

Start Date: February 1st, 2025 (negotiable)

Salary: $56,000 CAD per year, plus Plan C health benefits

The Department of Clinical Neurosciences in the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Neurophysiology of Human Cognition.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral fellow with a background in cognitive neuroscience and an interest in studying human cognition using intracranial recordings. The fellow will work closely with Dr. Fady Girgis, MD in the division of neurosurgery and Dr. Julia Kam, PhD in the department of psychology. This is a collaborative environment within the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.
The fellow will work in an interdisciplinary environment with a team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, physicists, and computer scientists on several funded projects that aim to discover the neurophysiological basis of various cognitive constructs, using low-intensity focused ultrasound, intracranial EEG, single unit recordings, machine learning and potentially stimulation approaches. Their primary role will involve executing the funded projects (i.e. performance of modulatory brain ultrasound on healthy participants and patients, acquisition of intracranial EEG and single-unit recordings from surgical patients, analysis of behavioral and intracranial neurophysiology data, development of analytic tools, scientific dissemination). With access to state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities and academic resources at the Cumming School of Medicine, the Psychology department, and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the fellow will also have the opportunity to pursue collaborative and self-directed projects beyond the funded research. They will also be strongly encouraged to apply for national/international awards.

The lab’s mission is to deepen our knowledge of the neural underpinnings of various cognitive constructs including theory of mind, non-literal language, and interpersonal distance, using a multi-modal approach that combines behavioral methods with focused brain ultrasound and intracranial EEG neural recordings. The fellow can expect to work in a diverse and inclusive environment, which aims to provide trainees with relevant opportunities and support them to achieve their career goals.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering or related disciplines (or an MD with research experience in these fields)
• Background in human neuroscience or cognitive psychology
• Interest in cognition and electrophysiology
• Experience with analyzing neural time series data (with strong preference for EEG/MEG/iEEG/single unit recordings)
• Strong scientific computer programming (Matlab/Python) and statistical analysis (SPSS/R) skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and strong interpersonal skills to interact with a diverse subject population (patients and healthy controls) and interdisciplinary team members

Application Details:

Please submit your application including the following documents in a single pdf to Dr. Fady Girgis at fmgirgis@ucalgary.ca:

• a cover letter describing the relevance of applicant’s research experience and publication record to the position
• current curriculum vitae
• 1-2 first author publications (if available)
• contact information (i.e. email) for 2 to 3 references (who may be asked for a reference letter if necessary)

Applicants are encouraged to apply to this position immediately. Application packages will be accepted until 11:59 pm MST November 30, 2024.

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking.

About Calgary, Alberta

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