Post-Doctoral Associate: Sleep- DBS Parkinson's Disease

Twin Cities

Full-Time

Hybrid, M-F, 8:30am - 5pm

Position Summary:

The Neuromodulation Research Center (NMRC) at the University of Minnesota is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate to study the brain mechanisms involved in disordered sleep in
Parkinson's disease (PD) and develop sleep-specific deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies. Under the direction of Luke Johnson, PhD and Jerrold Vitek, MD PhD, the Post-Doctoral Associate will work collaboratively within the NMRC on a clinical research project and have the unique opportunity to perform cortical and subcortical electrophysiological recordings across the sleep-wake cycle in patients receiving DBS implants. The Post-Doctoral Associate may also be involved in a study utilizing high-field 7T MRI fiber tractography and computational modeling to associate pathway activation patterns with sleep outcomes following clinically optimized DBS in PD patients.

The Post-Doctoral Associate's research will provide a better understanding of the brain circuitry involved in disordered sleep in PD, contribute to the development of electrophysiological based strategies (e.g., closed-loop DBS) for the treatment of sleep-wake disturbances, and provide the rationale for selection of DBS targets and programming settings in PD patients for whom sleep disturbances play a major role in their disease.

We are a large collaborative research team and part of the NIH funded University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence in PD Research (Center Director: Jerrold Vitek MD
PhD). Our research involves collaborations across multiple fields including Neurology, Neurosurgery, Biomedical Engineering, Radiology, and Biostatistics. We also have a
robust preclinical translational research program that includes sleep studies in the nonhuman primate model of PD. Together this provides a vibrant training and research environment for
the Post-Doctoral Associate.

The candidate should have a strong quantitative background and signal processing expertise appropriate for the analysis of neural activity. Candidates with a background in sleep
physiology are especially encouraged to apply.

Work Schedule:

Hybrid, M-F, 8:30am - 5pm

• 75% Research Duties:
  Data collection, analysis, method development, publication of results in manuscripts, proceedings, and conference abstracts.
• 10% Supervision and Project Management:
  Manage junior lab members, and volunteers to ensure timely completion of project aims.
• 5% Career Development:
  Professional skills, leadership training, technical skills development.
• 5% Outreach:
  Patient/community outreach, Industry Partnerships.
• 5% Travel:
  Attending/presenting at local/national/international conferences.

• PhD in Neuroscience, BME, ECE, or similar field.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Strong quantitative background and signal processing expertise appropriate for the analysis of neural activity.
• Strong record of presenting research results through publications and conference abstracts.

• Programming in MATLAB.
• A background in sleep physiology.

To learn more about the Department of Neurology, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Pay Range: $65,480 annually - $79,076 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or…