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The Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) seeks to hire a “Post-Doctoral Associate” (9742R5: Researcher 5) interested in identifying deviations in brain structure and white matter organization associated with problematic alcohol use. As part of a two-year project funded by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (PI: Dr. Sylia Wilson), the postdoctoral associate will be primarily responsible for processing and analyzing anatomical and diffusion weighted imaging data already collected in multiple large, adult samples, including a sample of twins from the MCTFR (N = 1152) and a sample of twins and their nontwin siblings from the Human Connectome Project (N = 1113). The postdoctoral associate will take the lead on and contribute to manuscripts developing from this project. In addition to the primary project, the MCTFR has several ongoing, large-scale, NIH-funded projects (PIs: Drs. William Iacono, Matt McGue, Monica Luciana, Scott Vrieze) examining biological and environmental contributors to the development of substance misuse and related psychopathology. Comprehensive, multimodal (clinical, personality, neurocognitive, psychophysiological, imaging) data have been collected at multiple time points in twin and adoption samples prospectively assessed from preadolescence into middle adulthood. The postdoctoral associate will have ample opportunities to work with and prepare manuscripts using existing data from these projects.
Candidate expectations are: (1) Ph.D. in psychology, neuroscience or related field; (2) neuroimaging experience; and (3) expertise as demonstrated through publications or funded research. The applicant will join an interdisciplinary team of researchers (including neuroscientists, geneticists, psychopathologists, developmental psychologists, and statisticians) interested in the development of substance use and other common mental disorders. The MCTFR dataset is unique in terms of the breadth of its assessment (e.g., a rich set of clinical, personality, and endophenotypic measures), developmental informativeness (participants have been assessed every 3-4 years, spanning ages 11 through 42), comprehensive measurement of environmental risk (e.g., prenatal, familial, peer group, neighborhood), inclusion of biological measures (e.g., anatomical, resting state, functional MRI; DTI; dense array EEG/ERP; neuropsychological function) and extensive coverage of molecular genetic variants in prospectively studied samples of twins and twins’ parents and children (1800 pairs). The MCTFR affords excellent opportunities for the person filling this position to develop an independent program of research in addition to working with these data.
Major Responsibilities
• (10%) Collaborate with MCTFR principal investigators, research associates, other post-doctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students to develop and advance research topics;
• (20%) Process and analyze MRI data relevant to brain structure and function;
• (40%) Develop and complete hypothesis driven research focusing on MRI data and relating it to other MCTFR data predicting, mediating, and moderating variables in composite datasets using epidemiological, behavior genetic, longitudinal and other data analysis methods;
• (10%) Prepare preliminary reports for MCTFR Principal Investigators and our research seminar;
• (20%) Publish at least four papers annually in top research journals.
Essential Qualifications
• Ph.D. in psychology, neuroscience or related field;
• One or more years of graduate school research training;
• Strong publication track record in top research journals.
Preferred Qualifications
• Neuroimaging processing and analysis experience;
• Prior experience preparing proposals for sponsored research funding;
• Skills using standard imaging software (e.g. FreeSurfer. FSL) and programming (e.g. MATLAB, R Python);
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Additional experience and/or interest in cognitive/affective neuroscience, substance use and related psychopathology, and twin studies and behavior genetics methods is a plus.
Required Application Materials (Application attachments)
• An updated CV;
• Personal statement;
• Up to three reprints/preprints;
• Contact information for three professional references.
MCTFR
The Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) seeks to identify environmental and genetic influences on psychological traits. The MCTFR includes studies of twins, adoptees, and biologically related adolescent siblings. MCTFR participants are involved in a variety of NIH-funded projects that include assessment of psychopathology, psychophysiology, neurocognitive, and MRI data, as well as collection of DNA samples. In addition to multiple large-scale projects with twins and twins’ parents and children, the MCTFR is now the twin research hub for the NIH Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) project ( http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-landmark-study-sub...). This position offers the opportunity to work in a high-quality research environment with strong scientific collaborations in the MCTFR, the Department of Psychology, and other departments (Institute of Child Development, Psychiatry), as well as the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR).
Appointment
MCTFR Post-Doctoral Associate is appointed by the MCTFR’s Principal Investigators and reports to them. Position is 100%-time and classified as an academic professional appointment. It is contingent upon the availability of funds and/or work for the position. Appointment-provided health, dental, vacation and sick-time benefits plus is covered by Social Security and Faculty Retirement System. Position requires a background check and applicant must verify authorization to work in United States. Initial appointment is for one year but is renewable with acceptable performance. Salary is competitive and commensurate with education and experience.
Interested applicants should send application materials by e-mail to Dr. Sylia Wilson at syliaw@umn.edu. Inquiries about the position can also be directed to Dr. Wilson. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.