Description / Summary of the Position
We are seeking a postdoctoral scholar to join the Decision Neuroscience and Psychopathology Lab (DNPL) in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. The successful applicant will work on several NIH-funded studies that use neurocomputational methods to examine the relationship between learning processes and the structure of psychopathology, with a particular focus on negative affect and interpersonal dysfunction. They will be expected to develop publications from large existing datasets. Current studies integrate behavioral experiments, psychophysiology, fMRI, computational modeling, and latent variable methods to identify neural and cognitive mechanisms that underlie dimensions of psychopathology. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and postdocs in the lab, gain valuable methodological training, and develop an independent research program. The candidate will also contribute to the training of professional staff and help oversee ongoing data collection efforts in the lab. The candidate should have a strong quantitative background and a track record of academic productivity in high-quality outlets. This position will be supervised jointly by Timothy Allen, PhD, and Alex Dombrovski, MD.
Preferred Skills
The following skills and/or knowledge are preferred: experience with neuroimaging research methods and software including FSL, AFNI, and/or SPM, strong computer programming skills including knowledge of shell scripting, Python, R, MPlus, and MATLAB, proficiency in statistical analyses, experience with psychophysiological data, knowledge of dimensional models of psychopathology and latent variable modeling.
To Apply
Candidates must have completed the requirements for a PhD in psychology (clinical, cognitive, personality, or quantitative preferred) or neuroscience at the time of the appointment to be eligible for this position. This is a 1-year position that can be extended based on the candidate’s interest level and demonstrable progress. To apply, please submit a CV, cover letter, and three references that can speak to the candidate’s research acumen to Christopher Damerau at damerau@pitt.edu.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions have been filled. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified participants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristics protected by law.
Please visit the lab website at www.dnpl.pitt.edu for additional information.