Jobs
Postdoctoral Fellow
Posted 28 Aug 2023
Employer
University of Pennsylvania
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Principal Investigator
Contact
Interested candidates should email a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and anticipated Ph.D. completion date to:
Jeff Phillips, Ph.D.
Richards Medical Laboratories
3700 Hamilton Walk, Room B601
Philadelphia, PA. 19104
Email: Jeffrey.Phillips@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Description
The University of Pennsylvania’s Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (FTDC) seeks a qualified applicant for a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroimaging and biomarker investigations of atypical Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and related diseases. The FTDC’s continuing mission includes advancing our understanding of the biological basis of early onset neurodegenerative diseases, developing novel biomarkers for early and differential diagnosis, identifying sources of clinical and pathologic heterogeneity, and developing prognostic models of disease risk and progression. The FTDC’s longitudinal cohort comprises individuals with FTLD tauopathies and TDP-43 proteinopathies; non-amnestic and early onset forms of AD; Lewy body spectrum disorders; and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with frontotemporal dementia. Deep endophenotyping is achieved through expert clinical consensus, comprehensive cognitive and behavioral assessment, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, genotyping, fluid biomarker assays for disease-related proteins, and postmortem histopathology with innovative digital quantification. FTDC researchers work closely with colleagues from the Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, and the Penn Image Computing & Science Lab; in addition, center members participate in several international consortium studies.
Candidates should have or soon plan to receive a Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent degree in a relevant field of study (e.g., neuroscience, neurology, bioengineering, computational biology, biostatistics, or cognitive psychology). The ideal candidate will have experience in one or more of the following areas: 1) clinical research in AD, FTLD, or related diseases; 2) brain structural and functional connectivity analysis using MRI; 3) PET imaging of neurodegenerative disease; or 4) computational modeling of disease progression. Additional preference will be given to candidates with experience coding in R, Python, or Matlab; and those familiar with tools and best practices for open, reproducible science, including the use of Rmarkdown or Python notebooks, the Brain Imaging Data Standard (BIDS), and version control using Github, DataLad, or similar tools. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The University of Pennsylvania adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. Above all, the university encourages applications from individuals with a deep interest in clinical-translational research to better understand age-related neurodegenerative disease and help develop effective disease-modifying therapies.
The FTDC is based in the Department of Neurology within the Perelman School of Medicine. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Penn has a highly collaborative brain science community spanning multiple departments and research centers. Postdoctoral fellows benefit from career development support through the Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs and the Penn Postdoc Association. FTDC trainees have a strong track record of applying for and achieving funding for original research projects through internal sources (e.g., the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics), foundations (e.g., the Alzheimer’s Association), and the National Institutes of Health.
Requirements
Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. required in a relevant field.