Postdoctoral Researcher

The Center for Brain Recovery (C ) at Boston University is a cutting-edge research center focused on understanding mechanisms of language recovery following stroke and developing effective treatments for stroke survivors. Our interdisciplinary team of clinicians, neuroscientists, engineers, and data scientists is dedicated to advancing precision rehabilitation and next-generation neurotechnologies for individuals with aphasia.

The Center for Brain Recovery is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Postdoctoral Researcher to join our dynamic team working on two complementary research initiatives. The successful candidate will advance groundbreaking work in understanding how the brain recovers language function after stroke and in developing neuroimaging-based prognostic frameworks to enhance precision rehabilitation, neuromodulation and therapeutics for aphasia. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge research in neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, and precision therapeutics for aphasia recovery.

• Conduct and analyze fMRI studies investigating how different brain networks (language network and domain-general multiple demand network) support language processing in persons with aphasia
• Evaluate how intensive language therapy modulates neural engagement across brain networks

• Develop and refine computational pipelines for analyzing directional temporal-frontal connectivity using advanced neuroimaging data (MRI, DTI, rsfMRI)
• Build and validate lesion-informed cortical-dynamics simulations to compute patient-specific effective connectivity
• Create personalized "digital twins" of patient brains to identify recruitable language function and viable neuroprosthesis targets

• Develop machine learning models that predict individual recovery prognosis and treatment response from multimodal neuroimaging and behavioral data
• Apply interpretable AI methods to identify predictive neural biomarkers
• Validate prognostic algorithms on independent cohorts and translate findings into clinical candidacy assessments

• Coordinate recruitment, screening, and enrollment of stroke survivors with aphasia across varying severity levels
• Oversee fMRI data collection and quality assurance
• Manage longitudinal study databases and ensure compliance with ethical research standards
• Contribute to clinical characterization of participants and behavioral assessments

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, data science, psychology, or related field
• Strong experience with fMRI data acquisition and analysis
• Proficiency in neuroimaging analysis software (FSL, SPM, AFNI) and programming languages (Python, MATLAB, or R)
• Experience with structural connectivity analysis and/or computational modeling
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team
• Commitment to ethical research practices and patient-centered care

• Experience with machine learning or deep learning applications in neuroimaging
• Prior involvement in clinical trials or clinical research with stroke or aphasia populations
• Experience with network neuroscience or connectivity analyses
• Familiarity with brain-computer interface, neuromodulation research or neurorehabilitation