Research Specialist D

About the Role

The Research Specialist works closely with the principal investigator as well as other collaborating investigators and CNDS staff in carrying out CNDS research. He/she conducts human neuroimaging research focused on the neuroscience of depression, post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and program functional MRI analysis pipelines using shell scripting
• Acquire data using advanced statistical techniques including multivariate methods, data reduction techniques such as lasso, structural equation modeling, survival analysis and Bayesian inference
• Oversee the management and sharing of datasets for the CNDS including large consortium datasets across 2 different 4-site projects
• Oversee data harmonization
• Train, manage and mentor the coordinators in MRI scanning administration/knowledge and in data analysis
• Supervise maintenance of CNDS website
• Assume responsibility for new projects
• Conduct low intensity ultrasound studies including target development, sonication and fMRI analysis of pre-post circuit effects
• Implement the new psychedelic projects
• Conduct MRI scans as backup
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• Master of Science and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required
• Understand and utilize AFNI, ANTs, FSL, Freesurfer, Connectome Workbench, fMRIPrep for existing functional MRI analysis
• Design, implement and program functional MRI analysis pipelines using shell scripting, MATLAB, and Python
• Use advanced statistical analysis including multivariate methods, data reduction techniques, structural equation modeling, survival analysis and Bayesian hierarchical imaging models, graph neural networks
• Develop new skills and analysis techniques across a number of research methodologies to adapt the latest advanced analytic techniques to the datasets, for example support vector machine classifiers
• Advanced programming skills to troubleshoot problem scripts in various aspects of data analysis, including the Real Time data that is transferred to the cloud for analysis, the development and acquisition of novel brain targets for TMS stimulation and troubleshooting data harmonization across sites
• Knowledge of JavaScript, Python and HTML to supervise the maintenance of the CNDS website by other CNDS personnel
• Oversee the management of data for 2 large multi-center grants—for one, Penn is the data coordinating center responsible for harmonizing and analyzing the data across all 4 sites; for the other, Penn is the corresponding site responsible to NIMH for all data inquiries
• Assist with programming methods for a cloud-based data analysis stream, with advanced scripts to implement the data processing to capture the fMRI data in the scanner, transmit it to the cloud where it undergoes machine learning decision making and then is sent back to the scanner
• Responsible for the targeting of brain targets for a new focused ultrasound sonication
• Hold an engineering degree or a degree in a related field and be responsible for maintaining the transducer and its connections as well as for fMRI data analysis of the LIFU intervention
• As additional new projects are inaugurated, assist in implementation and be responsible for data analysis and programming

Pay

$67,155.00 - $76,973.25 Annual Rate

Schedule

Position is contingent upon continued funding