Candidates are being considered for a Brain Imaging Data Analyst / Programmer position to support investigators in the Brian and Behavioral Sciences (BBS) Center who are using cutting-edge brain imaging and electrophysiological techniques, including conventional and multi-band task-related fMRI, resting-state fMRI, DTI, and concurrent EEG/fMRI. The BBS Center is located within the Department of Psychology (http://psychology.umd.edu/) at the University of Maryland and has close ties with the Maryland Neuroimaging Center (Dr. Luiz Pessoa, Director), conveniently located 5 minutes from the Department by car. Consult with researchers, staff, and students on the design, collection, processing, and analysis of high-dimensional brain imaging and EEG data sets. Participate in the design of long-term and complex studies. This is an ideal opportunity for tech-savvy individuals with prior experience working in a neuroimaging or similar biomedical research environment at the undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral levels.
This advertisement is for a Faculty Research Assistant (BS/BA or MA/MS) or Research Associate/Staff Scientist (Ph.D./MD). The particulars of the title and compensation will depend on the experience, education, and professional training of the applicant.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Support the Analysis AND Acquisition of Physiological and Behavioral Measures (80%): Work closely with faculty and trainees to co-develop and refine Matlab, bash, and Python scripts for processing and analyzing high-dimensional physiological data using AFNI, ANTS, SPM, FSL, EEGLAB and other packages. Data includes structural/functional MRI, EEG, and peripheral physiology Program experiments (i.e., stimulus delivery and response measurement) in Eprime, PsychToolbox, Presentation, or other software packages Assist users with MRI peripheral apparatus (e.g., fiber-optic user I/O devices), EEG equipment, and apparatus for measuring peripheral physiology (Biopac) as well as eyetracking Assist with fMRI data collection as necessary Assist BBL Center investigators with preparing text and figures for presentations, manuscripts, and grant applications Create and maintain web- or Wiki-based tutorials and documentation. Lead tutorial workshops. 2. General IT and System Administration Support (20%; as needed): File Server/ Network Administration (updates, upgrades, and routine maintenance; install and verify installation of updates/patches); maintain network security; compile, configure, and maintain networked applications; create, maintain, and audit user accounts across various systems) Plan for anticipated upgrades and performance improvements as the network grows in computing, storage, and bandwidth needs (e.g., consult closely with senior researchers and monitor server usage to anticipate server growth requirements; proactively help to coordinate data-intensive research projects; assist users with troubleshooting IT problems; communicate regularly with BBS and MNC Directors, senior researchers, and users to maintain awareness of current and future user needs) Workstation Application / Hardware Administration / General IT Support (e.g., install and configure workstation OS; install and configure applications on Windows and/or Apple workstations; maintain and update licensed and unlicensed applications and security-software; maintain and manage local printers; communicate regularly with BBS Director, senior researchers, and users to maintain awareness of perceived user needs and disseminate best practices) Data Backup and Integrity (e.g., verify that valid backups occur; troubleshoot and resolve issues; restore archived data as needed; work with BBS Director, senior researchers, and users to balance, space/performance trade-offs) Minimum Qualifications Required to Perform Work: A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, including psychology, biology/neuroscience, physics, engineering, computer science, or (must show evidence that the relevant degree will be completed before the start of the position) Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Java, Perl, Python, Ruby on Rails), Matlab, Eprime/Presentation/PTB, or neuroimaging software packages (AFNI, ANTS, BrainVoyager, Camino, DTI-TK, EEGLAB, ERPLAB, Freesurfer, FSL, GIFT, or SPM) Familiarity with statistics principles (e.g., GLM) and software (e.g., R, SPSS) Prior experience with or willing to learn IT/system administration responsibilities "on the job" in collaboration with Department and University IT staff Ability to multitask, manage time effectively, and document projects Ability to proactively and clearly communicate and interact with a multi-disciplinary team of investigators, staff, and trainees in a variety of settings (e.g., face to face, email, phone, videoconference) Must work well independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team with a wide range of expertise and skill sets Must be able to contribute to a positive work environment Must have flexible working hours to include occasional weekend/evening coverage for emergencies (e.g., unplanned network outages, grant deadlines) Ability to clearly and honestly communicate with a wide range of audiences (IT staff, faculty investigators, scientific staff, graduate and undergraduate students) Preferences (The ideal candidate would have): Masters or higher degree in a relevant field of neurobiology, medicine, psychology, engineering, or IT/CS Prior experience with teaching, instruction, or coaching Prior experience collecting/analyzing brain imaging or EEG datasets Prior experience with managing people and projects Expertise in applied multivariate statistics and/or advanced neuroimaging techniques (e.g., DCM, gPPI, LASSO-PCR, mediation, MVPA) is also highly desirable * Prior experience with scientific communication (poster presentations, peer reviewed publications) and/or successful grant/fellowship applications
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS The position can start at any time. This is a one year position that is renewable for a total of at least three years contingent on performance and funding. The University of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative-Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era or special disabled veteran's status, or sexual orientation. The University of Maryland strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance campus diversity.
CONTACT For additional information, contact Prof. Shackman (shackman@umd.edu). To apply, please email a cover letter, relevant transcripts, a current CV or resume, and the names and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.