Postdoctoral position

Kessler Foundation; Trondheim; On-site; NOK 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

NTNU approaches aging neuroscience with advanced imaging to understand social and emotional processing in aging. A three-year postdoctoral fellowship focuses on deep sampling studies, involving fMRI, behavioral tests, and data analyses to map brain networks.

The role emphasizes collaboration, publishing, and potential for further career development, with opportunities to engage in cross-sectional and large-scale data approaches at NTNU's Aging Neuroscience Group.

Qualifications

• PhD in psychology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or related field.
• Expertise in design and analyses of fMRI data (task and resting state).
• Strong publication record and English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Carry out high-quality research within a deep sampling study.
• Data collection (fMRI and behavioral testing) and data analysis.
• Publish results and participate in group activities; seek funding.

Skills

fMRI data analysis

Univariate analyses

Multivariate analyses

Machine learning in neuroscience

Python

MATLAB

Education

PhD in neuroscience/psychology/biomedical sciences

Tools

SPM

FSL

Python

MATLAB

Job description

About the position and project

This three-year postdoctoral fellowship will be part of the Aging Neuroscience Group, which explores the structural and functional neural networks underlying social and emotional processing in aging.

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow to join the lab in Spring of 2027 to help better understand the emotional and brain changes that occur in aging.

Dr Ziaei’s group aims to explore how individual differences in cognitive functions and biological markers influence brain networks involved in processing social and emotional cues in the environment. We are running a deep sampling study in which healthy and clinical patients will be followed and scanned several times to identify within-individual variabilities in social-emotional processing. Additionally, we are interested in using an ultra-high field scanner (7T) to examine the role of deep structures such as the locus coeruleus in individual variabilities and association with mental and cognitive health outcomes.

In addition, the postdoctoral fellow will be able to be engaged in other projects including cross-sectional design and large-scale data approach. For more information about our current work and publications please visit: Brain Health Platform | Maryam Ziaei or Maryam Ziaei - NTNU

The purpose of a postdoctoral position is to build up a researcher profile that qualifies for a position as associate professor. The position may also offer additional skills that are relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career.

Duties of the position

• Carry out research of excellent quality, contributing to the ongoing deep sampling studycooperate on project design
• data collection (fMRI and behavioral testing)
• data analysis

Academic publications and popular science dissemination

• Participation in the research group's activities
• Applying for research funding and write applications and report on progress to funding sources
• Participating in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Mentoring students, helping them with their research projects, and advising on methodology and academic writing
• Additional opportunity to work on existing dataset or generate new project (within the scope of the lab)

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in psychology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or related fields.
• If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Expertise in design and analyses of fMRI data (both task and resting state-based fMRI data)
• Expertise in univariate analyses (e.g., SPM, FSL) and programming (e.g., Python and Matlab)
• Experience in multivariate analyses and network analyses
• Excellent academic record with scientific publication in relevant fields
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English
• If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in delineation of small structures such as brainstem structures or subcortical areas
• Experience in applying machine learning in neuroscience
• Experience in analyzing large MRI dataset
• Familiarity with analyses of structural MRI data (volumetric and/or DTI analyses)
• Research experience with older adults’ population

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and for general criteria for the position.