Career Center

Description

PURPOSE OF POSITION: To learn to conduct independent research and support the independent research of others in a Medical Center dedicated to the care of infants, children, and adolescents.

Dr. Nehal Parikh, Director of the Center for Prevention of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CPND), is looking to hire a motivated postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a research team focused on understanding and early identification of brain abnormalities and neurodevelopmental disorders in high-risk newborns. The NIH-funded research crosses multiple disciplines including computational neuroscience, multimodal neuroimaging, prognostication, and neurodevelopmental rehabilitation. The focus is on integrating multimodal neuroimaging with advanced computational and engineering techniques to enable early diagnosis and prevention of neurodevelopmental disorders. Ongoing studies (the largest of its kind) are employing connectometric approaches to the over 500 advanced MRI scans collected in preterm infants soon after birth. These children are currently undergoing neurodevelopmental testing at 3 and 5 years of age and repeat neuroimaging at 5 years of age. This is a great opportunity to contribute to additional high-quality MRI data collection, processing, data analysis, student mentoring, and manuscript/grant writing.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is a premier pediatric research institution with over 900 diverse and productive faculty members. Here, researchers work collaboratively across specialties and divisions to address some of the biggest challenges we face today in improving child health. A strong network of research support services and facilities, along with institutional commitment to research, push our team of faculty, postdocs and support staff to explore the boundaries of what is possible, leading to significant breakthroughs. We are driven by our mission to improve child health and transform the delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation.

Post-doctoral research fellows at Cincinnati Children's are valued for their unique interests and strengths, and are supported by our institution's strong programming for post-docs through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development. Mentoring, support for international students and an emphasis on crafting high-quality grant proposals are only a few of the features that set our program apart. Cincinnati Children's is a respected part of the broader, and very vibrant, Cincinnati community. With a thriving arts scene, numerous festivals celebrating music and food, a passionate fan following for our college and professional sports teams, and a variety of opportunities for outdoor activities, our region is truly a great place to work and live.

Representative Responsibilities
??? Perform analysis and experiments - Design, execute, and record analysis and experiments; apply standard scientific protocols to research, and improve current methods and evaluate innovative techniques. Develop and implement human subject research protocols, vertebrate animal research protocols and design experimental procedures and documentation in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. Prepare, clean and analyze data. Maintain optimal protocol and accuracy by conducting regular quality and reproducibility checks.

??? Innovate and advance departmental capabilities - Independently reproduce, evaluate, research, and improve techniques currently used. Adapt new methods to existing procedures and modify current analysis/experiments through scientific knowledge and intuition. Maintain accurate and detailed records of all analysis and experiments. Develop, set-up, and verify new procedures in the department. Standardize and establish new published procedures; evaluate innovative techniques. Develop new protocols; design formats. Maintain an integral role in the department's meetings, presentations, and publications. Troubleshoot and correct erroneous results or problems with department software/equipment. Maintain and repair software/equipment; monitor proper use by personnel.

??? Communicate results/findings - Draft, write, and edit scientific reports, papers, journal articles, and abstracts. Present information on research and department work to others at department meetings, journal clubs, and seminars. Present results and discuss relevant insights with Faculty and provide useful recommendations and analysis.

??? Staff Leadership - May provide day-to-day functional leadership for a team or directly manage a minimal number of support staff. Establishes team goals. Gives input into, and performs employee performance reviews. Oversees and guides work assignments. Serves as the functional expert and provides guidance to the team.

??? Education and Training - May serve as course master and develop new courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, including appropriate plans for evaluating student performance; may deliver lectures as a guest lecturer in courses organized by other faculty. Assist in the training of new employees. Serve as a resource and/or mentor to coworkers. Assist in the development and presentation of department training. Identify training needs and provide necessary coaching.

??? Financial/Budgeting - Assist in preparing grant applications. Assist in preparing, writing, and maintaining fiscal budget. Monitor expenditures and prepare capital expenditure requests. Prepare, approve, and initiate check requests; track funding, maintain accurate balance, and resolve any discrepancies.

Qualifications

Required:
Ph.D. in related discipline, MD, or equivalent degree

Applicants should have a PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Statistics, Machine Learning, Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field. Experience with scripting/programming languages (MATLAB, Python, R, etc.) and familiarity with MRI data analysis (fMRI, dMRI, qMRI, etc.) is a must.

Unique Skills
??? Scientific Writing
Strong scientific writing abilities
??? Programming - Basic
Working knowledge of computer programming
??? Organization
Strong organizational and project management skills to handle projects independently.
??? Time Management
Prioritization and time-management skills sufficient to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
??? Analysis
Strong analytical skills with the ability to make judgments and recommendations based on statistical analysis
??? Statistics - Intermediate
Familiarity with statistical software, statistical techniques, statistical process control principles, and graphical data display
??? Research Methods Skills
Designing and conducting effective research studies that address measurement, data collection, and validity issues; identifying or developing appropriate, accurate, relevant, and reliable measurement methods; drawing appropriate conclusions from study results
??? Communication - Advanced
Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.