Drs. Elyse Sussman and Mark Wagshul, of the Departments of Neuroscience and Radiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY, are seeking a full-time postdoctoral research associate to work on an NIH-funded project exploring the neural bases of chemotherapy-induced cognitive deficits in survivors of childhood leukemia. The project uses EEG- and fMRI-based measures of cognitive function to understand the treatment-related deficits in children ages 5-12 years. The position is available starting May 2022; the position is for the duration of the project (March 2025), renewed annually based on performance and funding.

Our lab combines advanced event-related potential EEG and functional MRI brain imaging methods to understand cognitive function, and how it is impacted by treatment for cancer. In particular, we use EEG- and MRI-based measures of cognitive tasks to study brain pathways affected by cancer treatment, comparing these measures with standard neuropsychological testing. By combining the superior temporal resolution of EEG with the millimeter spatial resolution of fMRI, along with advanced techniques for extracting effective connectivity (e.g. neural dynamics and causality), we aim to identify the specific cognitive domains and related brain pathways altered by cancer treatment. These studies will ultimately lead to objective measures of brain function which can drive development of better therapy modalities which do not impact cognitive skills in the way that current therapies do.

Successful candidates for the position will have a PhD in physics, biomedical engineering, neuroscience or a related discipline, a strong background in either cognitive neuroscience or MRI physics, expertise in image and EEG data processing, as well as data and statistical analysis. Programming experience should include the commonly used packages for image and EEG processing, such as C++, Matlab, and FSL. The candidate should have significant experience in EEG/ERP data collection and analysis methods and/or imaging in a clinical setting and a strong background in the development and/or application of novel methods for human brain imaging, such as DTI/fMRI/structural MRI data analyses. Candidates with experience only in EEG-based or fMRI-based methods will be considered. The candidate will allocate time to both the EEG and MRI labs. Prior experience with auditory-based ERP/fMRI is not necessary, but candidates with such experience will be given preference. A strong work ethic, excellent organizational and communication skills, and ability to work independently is expected. Previous experience working with children in a research setting is a plus. The candidate will be expected to be involved in all aspects of the project, including EEG, image and data analysis, statistical analysis, as well as interfacing with the clinical team. Competitive salary and benefits will be offered based on qualifications.

The Gruss MRRC is located on the main campus of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. The Center has a multinuclear 3.0 Tesla Whole Body Philips Elition human system, along with on-site support from a Philips Clinical Scientist, and a 9.4 T Direct Drive Varian animal system. Image processing facilities including a computing cluster, multiple Linux workstations and PCs with imaging and general software installed. Please visit our website for more details (http://www.einstein.yu.edu/centers/gruss...).

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a leading academic institution, with over $170M in NIH funding. The candidate will have access to state-of-the-art brain imaging (MRI, EEG) and computing facilities. Einstein is one of the nation's premier institutions for medical education, basic research, and clinical investigation. It is home to some 2,000 faculty members, 750 M.D. students, 350 Ph.D. students attending the Sue Golding Graduate Division — including 125 in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program — and 325 postdoctoral investigators training at our Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Studies. More than 7,000 Einstein alumni are among the nation's foremost clinicians, biomedical scientists, and medical educators.
Interested candidates should send their CV, a brief statement of their research interests and career goals, and the names and phone numbers of three references to Mark Wagshul (mark.wagshul@einsteinmed.edu) or Elyse Sussman (elyse.sussman@einsteinmed.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.