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Neuroimaging Data Analyst/Programmer

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Description

The Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking an additional data analyst/programmer.  This position is an excellent fit for graduating seniors or recent graduates with interest in the field of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging. Professor Yvette Sheline conducts projects associating MRI imaging data (structural, functional, diffusion) with behavioral data in large samples of mood disorder patients and evaluates how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) interventions change symptom-relevant brain circuits. Professor Sheline’s newest study, in collaboration with researchers at Princeton and Yale, uses real-time classification of brain activity in the MRI scanner to modulate task stimuli based on participants’ attentional state, providing feedback to help reduce negative attentional biases in depressed patients. Qualified candidates will have the opportunity to ask novel questions within the fields of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, with potential for collaborative research across the University system.

Responsibilities will include managing and cleaning data; querying databases to create reports and determine the accuracy of data entered; exporting/importing data between different sources; writing and editing existing code to organize data for analyses; assisting with basic statistical analyses using R, Matlab, and other tools; checking incoming neuroimaging data for completeness and accuracy and processing it with available scripts; and writing technical documentation. The successful candidate will need to develop a good understanding of neuroimaging methods and hypotheses described by various funded imaging grants in the lab.  The analyst will work closely with team members to develop analyses applied to lab projects, for example, the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on brain network connectivity and behavioral outcomes. Additional responsibilities will be assigned based on the successful candidate's skills and interests, with numerous opportunities for participating in publication or presentation of data.

Job Requirements: Bachelor's degree with major in Psychology, Statistics, Computer Science or related field, and 0 to 1 year of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Experience in biomedical or psychological research or data management preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Experience with linux/unix/bash scripting is preferred; extensive knowledge of tools useful in manipulating and converting data; facility with numbers and meticulous attention to detail; experience with statistics and statistical programming (R preferred); programming experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages preferred; capacity for learning new technical skills independently; experience with neuroimaging tools (Freesurfer, FSL, ITK) preferred.

This position is contingent on funding.

Graduate Student Advising

Dr. Sheline and Dr. Oathes offer mentorship to graduate students admitted to Penn’s Neuroscience Graduate Group.  If you are interested in joining the lab as a graduate student please feel free to contact Dr. Oathes or Dr. Sheline about possible opportunities, and see below for more information about applying to Penn Neuroscience — http://www.med.upenn.edu/ngg/

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

Work Study 

Our center is excited to offer work study experience to students who qualify. Please click here to determine eligibility. 

Independent Study

Offered on a case-by-case basis, please contact us for more information.