Post Doctoral Associate - Dr. Omar El Gharbawie's Laboratory

University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

University of Pittsburgh seeks a postdoctoral researcher in systems neuroscience to study sensorimotor circuits in non-human primates. The project combines electrophysiology, optical imaging, and fMRI to map brain networks during task performance and rest.

NIH funding supports a fully funded position with mentorship, seminars, and career development opportunities. Candidates with relevant PhD and strong communication skills are encouraged to apply; training across methods is provided as needed.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience or related field by start of appointment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with multiple methods; training provided in others.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects using electrophysiology, imaging, and fMRI in primates.
• Collaborate with team, publish findings, and present at seminars.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

Electrophysiology experience

Optical imaging experience

Computational background

Education

PhD in neuroscience, engineering, computer science, or related field

Tools

Electrophysiology

Optical imaging

fMRI

Neural data analysis

Job description

Postdoctoral Position in Systems Neuroscience: Sensorimotor Circuits in Non-Human Primates (University of Pittsburgh)

A fully funded postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Omar Gharbawie at the University of Pittsburgh. We study the structural and functional organization of brain circuits underlying sensorimotor control and cognition. Our lab also seeks to understand the neural basis of resting state networks. Our investigations use awake/behaving monkeys that are trained to perform manual tasks or studied during rest.

Our Approach Combines Complementary Methods Across Scales

• Recording: high-density electrophysiology, intrinsic signal optical imaging, and fMRI
• Causal manipulation: microstimulation, optogenetics, and pharmacological inactivation
• Anatomy: tract tracing, cytoarchitectonics, spatial transcriptomics, and MRI

The postdoctoral fellow will lead research projects using several of these methods, with the opportunity to shape new directions in the lab. Collaboration and teamwork are central to our work.

Training environment

Our lab is housed in the Systems Neuroscience Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Lab members have access to resources through the School of Medicine, School of Engineering, and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC), which is joint between Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University. Pittsburgh is one of the strongest hubs for primate neuroscience, with 27 active research groups, most within walking distance of each other. The community offers extensive training and professional development opportunities including grant writing and career planning. Postdocs are strongly encouraged to engage with our weekly seminars, distinguished lecture series, and neuroscience-related workshops.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, engineering, computer science, or a related field by the start of the appointment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Preferred: experience with electrophysiology, optical imaging, fMRI, psychophysics, in vivo animal work, or neural data analysis. Candidates strong in one area (including computational backgrounds) are encouraged to apply; we will provide training in the others.

The position is fully supported by NIH funding awarded to the lab. The stipend is competitive and commensurate with experience and accomplishments, following NIH postdoctoral guidelines. Health insurance and other benefits are provided.

Med-Neurobiology

Assignment Category

Full-time regular

Child Protection Clearances

The following PA Act 153 clearances and background checks are required prior to commencement of employment and as a condition of continued employment: PA State Police Criminal Record Check, FBI Criminal Record Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance.

Required Attachments

Curriculum Vitae, Other (see posting for additional details)