Postdoctoral Researcher

Columbia Psychiatry; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) Department of Psychiatry in New York, NY invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral researcher in Translational Neuroscience. The project focuses on how genetic susceptibility and early-life experiences shape depression risk through integrating basic neuroscience, neuroimaging, genetics, and large-scale datasets.

The successful candidate will work with NIH-funded programs on hippocampal mechanisms in depression after early-life adversity,

Qualifications

• PhD or MD/PhD with graduate degree in neuroscience, epidemiology, psychology, genomics, bioinformatics or related discipline.
• Proficiency or significant experience with neuroimaging analysis, statistical genomics and/or bioinformatics including RNA sequencing.
• Strong statistical and/or computational skills; excellent communication.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large human neuroimaging and genomic datasets.
• Integrate mouse and human post-mortem gene expression with human neuroimaging and genetics in large cohorts.
• Collaborate across neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, and computational biology.

Skills

Neuroimaging analysis

Statistical genomics

Bioinformatics

RNA sequencing

Python

R

Education

PhD or MD/PhD

Tools

RNA-Seq tools

Neuroimaging software

Job description

The Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY is seeking a full-time postdoctoral researcher in the field of Translational Neuroscience.

The postdoctoral scientist will work in the laboratory of Dr. Milenna van Dijk investigating how genetic susceptibility and early-life experiences shape risk for and resilience to depression by integrating basic neuroscience, human neuroimaging, statistical genetics, and large-scale population datasets.

The successful candidate will join an NIH-funded research program focused on hippocampal mechanisms underlying depression following early-life adversity. The postdoc will perform analyses of large human neuroimaging and genomic datasets, including cross-species translation and integration of mouse and human post-mortem gene expression signatures with human neuroimaging and genetics in large cohort studies.

This position offers the opportunity to work at the interface of neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, and computational biology while contributing to research aimed at identifying biological pathways that can inform prevention strategies for youth at risk for depression. The postdoctoral scientist will be encouraged to develop independent research questions, lead publications, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary network of neuroscientists, geneticists, and clinicians.

Qualifications

We are seeking an exceptionally motivated, creative, and collaborative scientist who is excited about understanding the biological mechanisms underlying depression and translating basic discoveries into clinically meaningful insights.

• PhD or MD/PhD with graduate degree in neuroscience, epidemiology, psychology, genomics, bioinformatics or related discipline.
• Proficiency or significant experience with one or more the following: neuroimaging analysis, statistical genomics and/or bioinformatics including experience with analysis of RNA sequencing data.
• Strong statistical and/or computational skills.
• A collaborative, curious, and highly organized work ethic.
• Strong professional track record.
• Proficiency in English.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.