Postdoctoral Associate

Postdoctoral Associate

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate for the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research & Rutgers-Princeton Center for Computational Cognitive Neuro-Psychiatry in University Behavioral Health Care. The primary purpose of the Postdoctoral Associate is to contribute to ongoing projects and have the opportunity to develop independent research aligned with the aims of the Addiction & Decision Neuroscience Lab (ADN).

Current work focuses on cognitive modeling of decision-making in both laboratory tasks and real-world settings, as well as machine learning and multivariate decoding of neuroimaging data to predict subjective experiences and individual differences. Successful candidates will be supported in building a research program at the intersection of these areas. Postdoctoral Associate will collaborate with the Principal Investigator and team to design, conduct, and publish analyses using existing datasets that longitudinally sample cognitive decision processes and/or integrate neuroimaging and detailed phenotypic data to investigate mechanisms relevant to addiction and recovery.

The Addiction & Decision Neuroscience Lab (ADN Lab) conducts decision neuroscience research with clinical applications to addiction and other mental health concerns. Our work draws on methods from psychology, experimental economics, human neuroscience, and computational psychiatry. Ongoing projects span clinical studies of addiction recovery to experimental research on how people construct value, experience subjective states like craving and affect, and make health-related decisions.

We use a range of techniques, including cognitive tasks administered in the lab and on smartphones, functional MRI (including densely sampled, precision imaging), and clinical assessment and phenotyping. By combining these tools with theoretical models, we aim to understand how the brain supports thoughts, emotions, and decisions—and how disruptions or biases in these processes impact mental health and addictive behavior.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Perform neuroimaging data analyses and/or cognitive modeling of behavioral data, including linking these data to clinical outcomes.
• Take a lead role in communicating the results of neuroimaging and computational studies through scientific journal articles and conference presentations.
• Work with the research team to ensure conformance with the quality standards of the research lab.
• Keep detailed records of procedures, experiments, and code.
• Assist with grant submissions and IRB protocol preparation.
• Supervise graduate and undergraduate students as well as research assistants conducting research in the laboratory.

FLSA
- Exempt

Grade

Salary Details

Minimum Salary - 20,000

Mid Range Salary - 90,000

Maximum Salary - 200,000

Benefits
- Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:
Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable) Life insurance coverage Employee discount programs

Position Status
- Full Time

Working Hours

Standard Hours - 37.50

Daily Work Shift

Work Arrangement
- This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.

Union Description
- Post Docs
- Regular Salaried

Payroll Designation
- People Soft

Seniority Unit

Terms of Appointment
- Staff - 12 month

Position Pension Eligibility - ABP

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience
- PhD, MD or MD/PhD in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, computational psychiatry, or a related field is required. Proficiency with programming and data analysis using at least one of MATLAB, Python, or R is required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Enthusiastic, curious, and having excellent communication skills, including writing skills as evidenced by first-author publications or preprints, is required. Strong organizational, planning, project management, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams. The successful candidate is expected to have experience with advanced functional neuroimaging data analysis methods and/or cognitive computational modeling.

Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience working with patient populations is desired but not required. Experience with cognitive task design or working with densely sampled longitudinal datasets is desired but not required.

Equipment Utilized

Physical Demands and Work Environment - PHYSICAL DEMANDS;
Standing, sitting, walking, talking or hearing. Manual dexterity and vision sufficient for standard laboratory and computer operations. WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Lab environment. Moderate noise. Travel to various sites/locations.

Special Conditions