Month: March 2020

Postdoctoral Associate opening at University of Maryland, College Park

The Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience lab (directed by Elizabeth Redcay: www.dscn.umd.edu) at the University of Maryland is inviting applications for a postdoctoral associate. This position is supported by an NIMH-funded grant investigating how brain network organization contributes to atypical social interaction in autism spectrum disorder. Research in the lab is focused on understanding the role of social-cognitive and motivational systems on the typical and atypical development of social interaction. We use functional and structural MRI methods, including task-based activation and functional connectivity methods during task and rest. 

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in cognitive, clinical, or developmental neuroscience, or related field, and significant expertise with advanced analytical approaches, including advanced statistical approaches and functional MRI methods and analyses (functional connectivity and graph theory methods are a plus). Prior background in social neuroscience, developmental cognitive neuroscience, or autism research is also a plus but not required.

This is an excellent position for qualified candidates to 1) gain expertise in high-priority research fields including autism and developmental neuroscience, and 2) advance methodological expertise through collaborations between the DSCN lab and the Laboratory of Cognition & Emotion (directed by Luiz Pessoa: www.lce.umd.edu). Further, the postdoc would be part of a supportive lab environment that prioritizes professional development, including publications and grant-writing experience. Finally, UMD is an ideal location to connect with and learn from diverse researchers both within UMD (e.g., Neuroscience and Cognitive Science program, Maryland Neuroimaging Center) and locally (e.g., NIH, UMD-Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, George Washington, Children’s Hospital, Georgetown). UMD is located in College Park, MD, just 5 miles from the vibrant and exciting city of Washington DC.

The position is open immediately but start dates into Fall 2020 will also be considered. This is a one-year position renewable contingent on performance and funding. 

Interested applicants should send a CV, statement of research experiences and goals, and contact details for three references to Elizabeth Redcay at redcay@umd.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The University of Maryland is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer with a commitment to racial, cultural, and gender diversity.  Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

— 

Elizabeth Redcay, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Department of Psychology
BPS 2147D
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers (What’s this?)

Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Maryland, College Park)

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Child Development Lab

University of Maryland

The Child Development Laboratory at the University of Maryland, College Park, (http://www.cdl.umd.edu) is searching for a postdoctoral fellow to work on ongoing research related to temperament and the development of psychopathology. The position is to begin Spring or Summer of 2020. This position is for up to two years, with the possibility of an extension depending on grant funding.

The postdoc will work on existing and new studies investigating behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of cognitive control in relation to temperament among young children, including the contribution of individual-level factors such as attention and executive functions to the continuity or discontinuity in temperament over time.  The lab draws on multiple methods of inquiry including behavioral responses, questionnaires, and electrophysiology. The successful candidate will primarily be responsible for analyzing EEG and ERP data from high-density EGI systems, writing scientific papers and participating in the intellectual life of the lab. Other duties will include working with research assistants and graduate and undergraduate students.

Position qualifications include a PhD in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, or a related field; experience with EGI high density systems for ERP and EEG acquisition and analysis; strong experimental and statistical skills; ability to work independently and in a team environment on multiple tasks and projects and to share one’s expertise with and train others. Experience with software programs (MATLAB, EEGLAB or other relevant programs), programming tasks (E-prime, Presentation), and statistical analysis (SPSS, R) is highly desired. Excellent scientific writing skills are also desired.

Please address questions or send a letter of research interests, a CV, and contact information for three references to Nathan Fox (fox@umd.edu) and Jamie Listokin (listokin@umd.edu).  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Jamie Listokin

Laboratory Manager
Child Development Lab
University of Maryland
Office: 301.405.8315

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Postdoctoral Fellowship to study Cognitive and Communicative Development

I have a Post-doctoral research position available for two years (extension negotiable) in  my Comparative BioCognition (CBC) Research Group at the University of Osnabrück, Germany. The project will investigate the development of turn-taking in human children (0-6 years) with a special focus on production and comprehension.  The project is funded by the European Research Council and involves both primary research to be conducted in the child lab at the CBC,  as well as the opportunity to work along side the PI in larger-scale project management (with planned comparisons in other primate species).  Primary research will involve conducting and coordinating research involving naturalistic observations and behavioral experiments (eye-tracking, pupillometry) and the use of statistical modeling (LMM and GLMM). 

I would be very grateful if you can please share widely.
Please contact me if you have any questions: spika@uos.de
 
Thanks a lot,
SP

 

***********************

Prof. Dr. Simone Pika
Comparative Biocognition 
Institute of Cognitive Science
University of Osnabrück, Germany
 
Co-director 
Ozouga Chimpanzee Project
Loango Nationalpark, Gabon

Postdoc Positions – Cross-Cultural Development of Supernatural Beliefs

Post-Doctoral Positions in Cross-Cultural Development of Supernatural Beliefs

 

The Childhood Cognition Lab (PI: Rebekah Richert; https://ccl.ucr.edu/) at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) is inviting applications for two full-time post-doctoral positions to join the Developing Belief Network (Project Directors: Rebekah Richert and Kathleen Corriveau; https://www.developingbelief.com/). A 5-year John Templeton Foundation grant funds the development of a research initiative designed to bring together a network of scholars interested in cross-cultural study of the development of religious cognition and behavior. The post-doctoral scholars will have the exciting opportunity to work with an international network of scholars to build a collaborative research methodology, which will involve training in cross-cultural validation of measures and collection of an expansive and global data set on the development of supernatural beliefs in the first 10 years of life.

 

Project Director: Housed at UCR and directly supervised by Rebekah Richert, the Project Manager will work collaboratively with PIs Richert and Corriveau, with a post-doc and Project Analyst at UCR, with a Data Scientist and post-doc BU, and with representatives from Databrary. The Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating communication between the PIs and the research sites, facilitating the development of a collaborative methodology, developing a training plan for data collection at all research sites, tracking progress to ensure the project remains on time, overseeing the budget, and coordinating reporting. (Minimum Requirements: PhD in Psychology or a related discipline, Experience coordinating a project that involves multiple individuals with varying levels of expertise, Experience managing a large research budget and financial reporting, Excellent written and oral communication skills; Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds; Fluency in Spanish; Proficiency with statistical analysis). The annual stipend and benefits will be commensurate with UCR guidelines and in accordance with experience and qualifications.  The approximate start date is July 1, 2020, but later start dates can be considered. Project Director salary will be $62,403-$100,417 depending on experience.

 

Application Instructions: Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, Statement of Research, and Statement of Past/Present Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, and three letters of recommendation to this link. Review of applications will begin on April 5, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled.

 

Post-Doctoral Researcher: Housed at UCR and directly supervised by Rebekah Richert, the Post-Doctoral Researcher will work collaboratively with PIs Richert and Corriveau, with a Project Manager and Project Analyst at UCR, with a Data Scientist and post-doc BU, and with representatives from Databrary. This position is 1 of 2 post-docs associated with this project; each the post-doc will oversee 4-5 research teams (their home institution plus 3-4 others). This oversight will include facilitating the development of a collaborative methodology, as well as coordinating with site PIs on task translation and in training and implementation of data collection. In addition, the post-docs will take a lead role in surveying existing literature for appropriate tasks, and in data analysis and manuscript writing as data are collected. Time permitting, the scholar will also be encouraged to develop and conduct independent research. (Minimum Requirements: PhD in Psychology or a related discipline, Experience coordinating a project that involves multiple individuals with varying levels of expertise,Excellent written and oral communication skills, Proficiency with statistical analysis; Preferred Qualifications:Experience working with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds; Fluency in Spanish). The annual stipend and benefits will be commensurate with UCR guidelines and in accordance with experience and qualifications.  The approximate start date is July 1, 2020, but later start dates can be considered. Postdoc salary will be $53,460-$61,800 depending on experience.

 

Application Instructions: Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, Statement of Research, and Statement of Past/Present Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, and three letters of recommendation to https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01256. Review of applications will begin on April 5, 2020, and will continue until the position is filled.

 

What is the Developing Belief Network?  The initial formation of the Developing Belief network will consist of a minimum of 10 research teams, with the potential for 12 if there is available funding. In addition to the PIs (Richert & Corriveau). Investigators will work across research sites over 5 years to develop a collaborative cross-cultural methodology, create culturally-validated measures, and collect data to contribute to a shared dataset on the development of religious cognition and behavior from children and families around the world. The Developing Belief Network will partner with Databrary to provide access to this rich dataset to the developmental science community broadly.

 

Questions about both positions can be emailed to Dr. Rebekah Richert (rebekah.richert@ucr.edu).

 

University of California, Riverside:  UCR is a world-class research University with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

Rebekah A. Richert, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Psychology
University of California, Riverside

Postdoc in Facial Affect Sensitivity Training Intervention

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Facial Affect Sensitivity Training Intervention
 
Location: The University of Alabama, Center for Youth Development and Intervention
 
Overview: Dr. Bradley A. White, director of the Cognition, Emotion, and Self-Regulation Lab, is actively seeking a postdoctoral fellow to contribute to our newly-funded NIMH R61/R33 clinical trial. This study will test a computerized Facial Affect Sensitivity Training Intervention that focuses on improving affect sensitivity in children ages 6-9 with callous-unemotional traits. This is a currently open, full-time, salaried position with regular university employee benefits. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
 
Role of Postdoctoral Fellow: The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with Dr. White and directly with participants in the clinical trial. They will co-lead and help coordinate most areas of the project including staff training and supervision. They will oversee data collection including psychophysiological (eye-tracking and EEG) indices, and be involved in data analysis and interpretation. They will be involved in manuscript development and dissemination of study findings. They will work collaboratively on a daily basis with a large research team, including several faculty Co-Is, graduate and undergraduate research assistants, and staff at The Center for Youth Development and Intervention on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. 
 
Qualifications: This position requires a Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, or a related fieldThe postdoc fellow must commit to a full-time one- to two-year research appointment. The possibility of the appointment extending longer can also be discussed. Prior research coordinator experience is preferred. Given child participants will be seen outside of school hours, some evening and weekend hours are required.
 
Application Requirements: To apply, candidates should submit an electronic packet with the following items to Dr. Bradley White (whiteba@ua.edu): 1) A cover letter describing your research and clinical experience, interests, and goals, 2) A curriculum vita, 3) Names and contact information for three professional references, 4) Available start date. Dr. Bradley White (whiteba@ua.edu) can also be contacted for questions regarding the application process or to learn more about the position.
 
About The University of Alabama: The University of Alabama is an R1 (Very High Research Activity, Carnegie Classification) institution located on a beautiful 1,200-acre campus. The mission of the university is to advance the intellectual and social condition of the people of the state of Alabama and beyond through teaching, research, and service. The university is also committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming campus community in which every member can thrive.
 
The UA campus is located in Tuscaloosa along the Black Warrior River. As one of Alabama’s most progressive cities, Tuscaloosa boasts hundreds of restaurants, a vibrant art and cultural scene, museums and historical sites, plentiful parks and lakes, and has recently been named the “Most Livable City in America”, one of America’s “100 Best Communities for Young People”, and one of the “50 Best College Towns.” Tuscaloosa is convenient to various popular destinations, including Birmingham, Montgomery, Chattanooga, New Orleans, Atlanta, Pensacola, and spectacular Gulf coast beaches.
 
About The UA Center for Youth Development and Intervention: The Center is a state-of-the-art research, training, and service facility that brings together investigators from diverse disciplines who share an interest in developmental psychopathology. The primary goal of the Center is to facilitate translational clinical science, targeting key processes in the prevention, remediation, and management of behavioral, emotional, and neurodevelopmental conditions from early childhood through early adulthood. The Center provides on-site and community-based training to providers, educators, and students in evidence-based assessment and intervention.

IBACS Meet & Speak Registration

Dear Research Community,

The CT Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) invites you to our annual Meet and Speak” event on Saturday, March 28th. This year, we hope to showcase more of the interdisciplinary work that our affiliates do, so in addition to having our recent seed recipients to speak, we have asked some specific faculty affiliates from various disciplines to speak as well. These faculty will give up to 10-minute presentations describing, in accessible language, the research they have carried out, or propose carrying out in relation to the Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Graduate students affiliated with the Institute will be providing short “datablitz” style presentations about their involvement in IBACS seed-funded or fellowship-supported research. Following the graduate student blitz, there will be a panel discussion to commemorate our 5-year anniversary. The panel will discuss questions such as the following: What does brain science/cognitive science mean to you? What are the challenges to progress that particularly excite you? What are the opportunities for progress? Where is brain science/cognitive science heading, or where should it head?  
 
We are excited to announce that following the panel discussion, we shall have a keynote by Dr. John Gabrieli, MIT. According to Google Scholar, he is in the top 10 most cited individuals in Cognitive Neuroscience. His talk is entitled “Environmental Influences on Human Brain Development”. More information about Dr. Gabrieli is below.
All sessions will be held in Oak Hall 101 from 9:00am until about 4:00pm. The full program is available on our website

This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about the diverse research that IBACS affiliates are engaged in, and will provide a forum for cross-disciplinary networking. Light breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided.
 
We hope you can join us on March 28th to celebrate our 5-year anniversary!


If you are interested in attending all or part of this event, please register by Friday, March 20th
 
About John Gabrieli:

Website: https://gablab.mit.edu
Bio: John Gabrieli is the director of the Athinoula A. Martinos Imaging Center at the McGovern Institute. He is an investigator at the McGovern Institute, with faculty appointments in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, where he holds the Grover Hermann Professorship. He also has appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is the director of the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative. Prior to joining MIT in 2005, he spent 14 years at Stanford University in the Department of Psychology and Neurosciences Program. He received a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and a BA in English from Yale University.
Talk title: Environmental Influences on Human Brain Development
 
Abstract: Neuroimaging provides new views on how environmental factors influence human brain development.  I will review findings about associations (1) among family socioeconomic status (SES), brain anatomy, and academic performance; (2) between early language experience and brain function and structure; and (3) between stress and brain function and how those can be altered by mindfulness training.