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The Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab under Dr. Bronte-Stewarthttps://secure-web.cisco.com/1pOUryuu1WsebjhWjk0I_OJDZZH2Ocigv6sCRXC_gFJOf3WWmnIA5a9yun1X-U5BTSdNj2AIzJjaCKIU1E_u8sExeSmFhgvgllnVJ9burV4oKXbSMZsi0BNsfsPkgHWPwVzgCdFf3jHxU9mefkCN6sc0phmkSjJRlQnzyAb6xsL_d5YrBhChyCZEbSVntVqR37jaSJHwhyZ_LpAaPraNHbMMYnvpWtP3OL7isLqyirF1FZABLOHwoNES3Dc5ZSxlgPiwTZsY5hdl15Vmmw2xUED7XlMBjB7xildmGRFgAUFp9WpvEeRM6zOkwtPYHC2_rKgObWyxscxQLmalRHpXMUQ/https%3A%2F%2Fmed.stanford.edu%2Fbronte-stewart-lab.html, part of the Stanford Movement disorders Center within the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, is seeking a postdoctoral scholar to aid in a pilot clinical trial using a novel deep brain stimulation approach for cognitive and cognitive-motor dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. The goal of the research in the laboratory is to understand the pathophysiology of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. At Stanford, innovations in neural interface technology have allowed us to discover how abnormal electrical brain activity contributes to disorders in movement. In the Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab, the first decoding of electrical activity in deep brain structures during abnormal movement in Parkinson’s disease patients was performed using novel and investigative sensing neurostimulators. Our team has deconstructed brain activity to discover both the neural code responsible and kinematic quantification for various motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. This has enabled us to reverse engineer brain circuitry and restore movement in Parkinson’s disease using the first closed loop, demand-based brain pacemakers that respond to neural and kinematic markers of movement impairment. We are now working towards expanding this approach to address the currently unsolved problem of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. The aim of the current work is stabilizing cognitive and cognitive-motor impairment in Parkinson’s disease using a novel deep brain stimulation approach in an ongoing pilot clinical trial. The current project uses structural neuroimaging to guide DBS lead placement and optimal DBS settings, as well as kinematic analysis of behavioral motor tasks. Additional projects include the development of a remote monitoring tool for Parkinson’s disease and other disorders which recently received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, as well as continued work related to adaptive (closed-loop) deep brain stimulation for motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. The current position offers an exceptional opportunity for a motivated and intellectually curious individual to participate in rewarding and cutting-edge research in human motor control and neurophysiology in Parkinson’s disease. There are also additional exploratory projects in the areas of traumatic brain injury, concussion in athletics, Alzheimer’s disease, Major Depressive Disorder, and Dementia with Lewy Bodies. The desired candidate would have a PhD in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline with experience in structural imaging, electrophysiology (LFP, ECoG, EEG, etc.), motor control and/or cognition. Preferred start date is early 2026. Job Requirements Required: PhD in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering or related disciplines with expertise in data sciences Experience in structural imaging (tractography, voxel-based morphometry, etc.) Experience working in the area of motor control and cognition Comfortable analyzing data in Matlab, Python, or similar languages Ability to work well in a diverse team Effective oral and written communication skills Excellent organization skills and demonstrated ability to complete detailed work accurately Excellent problem-solving ability
Preferred: Experience with Parkinson’s disease or other clinical populations Experience with deep brain stimulation modeling (volumes of tissue activated, etc.)
How to Apply: Apply by sending the following to Kevin Wilkinsmailto:wilkins2@stanford.edu (wilkins2@stanford.edu): CV Cover letter describing interest and relevant experience for the project Three potential reference contacts