Postdoctoral Fellow: Perioperative Sleep & Brain Health

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 64,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our perioperative research program focused on sleep, circadian and brain health, delirium and related perioperative neurocognitive disorders in surgical populations.

This role leads interdisciplinary translational research combining clinical datasets, actigraphy, EEG, biomarkers, and computational analysis to advance understanding of perioperative brain vulnerability and recovery.

Qualifications

• PhD in Neuroscience, Biostatistics, Biomedical Engineering, Data Science, Nursing, Epidemiology, or related quantitative field.
• Strong programming skills in R (required); proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python, SAS and/or SPSS preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced statistical methods (e.g., mixed-effects modeling, longitudinal analyses, survival analysis, causal inference).
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications in neuroscience, sleep/circadian science, clinical translational research, biomedical engineering or data science.
• Strong scientific writing, data visualization, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a multidisciplinary, team-based research environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex statistical analyses and predictive modeling of large perioperative datasets.
• Develop actigraphy, EEG protocols and algorithms for patient data processing.
• Conduct time-series analyses of sleep and circadian disruptions.
• Perform multivariate analyses integrating clinical, biomarker, and cognitive data.
• Design computational approaches to analyze neuroimaging and electrophysiological data.
• Manage and analyze data collected through REDCap and clinical databases.
• Create data visualizations and interactive dashboards for dissemination.
• Contribute to mechanistic studies on perioperative brain health.
• Analyze biomarkers related to neuroinflammation, gut microbiome, and neurodegeneration.
• Integrate multi-modal data to elucidate pathways of perioperative brain vulnerability.
• Collaborate with neuroscience and translational research teams.
• Coordinate clinical research protocols and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Supervise data collection and quality assurance processes.
• Mentor junior researchers and research staff.
• Lead manuscript preparation and contribute to grant applications.
• Present findings at national and international conferences.

Skills

R programming

Statistical modeling

Data visualization

Collaboration & teamwork

Education

PhD in Neuroscience or related field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

SAS

SPSS

Job description

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our perioperative research program focused on sleep, circadian and brain health, delirium and related perioperative neurocognitive disorders in surgical populations.

This role leads interdisciplinary translational research combining clinical datasets, actigraphy, EEG, biomarkers, and computational analysis to advance understanding of perioperative brain vulnerability and recovery.