Posted:	7/10/2012
Job Title:	Postdoctoral Fellowship: Brain Structure, Function and Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Associated Cognitive Impairment
Employer:	Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland
Description:	The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a major research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is recruiting postdoctoral fellows with interests in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and/or age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) in the Unit of Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, within the Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience. This research represents an exciting new initiative within the NIA intramural research program (IRP) to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms underlying risk factors for AD/AAMI, discover biologically relevant biomarkers that accurately reflect neuropathology and identify potential targets for effective disease modification/intervention. These studies combine multimodal neuroimaging methods to delineate changes in brain structure/function associated with risk factors for AD/AAMI (e.g., Thambisetty et al., 2010) and employ mass spectrometry-based proteomic/metabolomic techniques for the identification of biomarkers related to pathological endophenotypes associated with neurodegeneration (e.g., Thambisetty et al., 2010). The research benefits from the unique and rich longitudinal dataset available in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) as well as complementary patient cohorts such as AddNeuroMed that are available as part of ongoing international collaborations (e.g., Thambisetty et al., 2011). Additional information regarding the NIA/IRP and the Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (LBN) are available at the following websites: www.grc.nia.nih.gov/offices.htm or www.grc.nia.nih.gov/branches/lpc/lbn.htm.
Requirements:	The successful candidate will have research interests in the related fields of neuroscience, human biology or cognition. Experience with analysis of neuropsychological or neuroimaging data, and/or biomarker identification with strong writing skills are desirable. Preference will be given to individuals who are able to work independently and within a team. Those with experience in structural MRI and/or PET imaging in humans will be preferred. Fellowship duration is typically 3-4 years. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in neuroscience/neuroimaging or M.D., with less than five years of postdoctoral research experience. The position is located in Baltimore, MD, a city with a stimulating scientific and cultural environment, with proximity to the Johns Hopkins medical campus. Salary is commensurate with experience and accomplishments. DHHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers. The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.
Contact:	To apply, please send curriculum vitae, a brief description of research interests, and three letters of reference to: Madhav Thambisetty, MD, Ph.D., Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, at thambisettym@mail.nih.gov or at Madhav Thambisetty, M.D., Ph.D. Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience Biomedical Research Center 251 Bayview Blvd. Suite 100, Room 4B317 Baltimore, MD 21224-6825