Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title
Postdoctoral Associate

Job Category
Staff & Executive - Research (Laboratory/Non-Laboratory)

Department
RWJ - Neurosurgery

Posting Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position in the Neurosurgery Department, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the Postdoctoral Associate will conduct translational epilepsy research focused on the network mechanisms of ictogenesis in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The researcher will develop and validate quantitative, event-driven intracranial EEG (iEEG) approaches to characterize the Epileptogenic Network (EpiNet) and identify network chokepoints involved in seizure initiation. The position integrates preclinical optogenetic and intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse models with retrospective human iEEG and therapeutic outcome data. Responsibilities include small-animal surgery, multichannel electrophysiology, optogenetic and electrical stimulation, neuromodulation and lesion-based validation, signal processing, computational network analysis, and dissemination of results. The postdoctoral associate will work with substantial independence, collaborate with clinicians, engineers, computational scientists, mentor junior trainees, contribute to manuscripts and grant applications, and develop toward an independent research program.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Design and perform in vivo mouse experiments using optogenetic and intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) models of mesial temporal lobe seizures/epilepsy, including stereotactic injections and implantation of multichannel recording and stimulation electrodes.
• Acquire, curate, and analyze multichannel iEEG/electrophysiology recordings from preclinical models and retrospective human MTLE datasets.
• Apply complex signal-processing approaches to analyze animal and human intracranial EEG.
• Develop and implement computational network analyses to characterize the brain network interactions using connectivity and graph theory metrics.
• Develop reproducible computational pipelines in MATLAB, Python, R, or similar platforms for electrophysiology processing, network analysis, visualization, quality control, and statistical analysis.
• Perform and analyze electrical neuromodulation experiments, including open-loop and closed-loop stimulation paradigms, to test whether novel neurostimulation paradigms can interrupt seizures.

FLSA
Exempt

Grade

Salary Details

Minimum Salary
20,000

Mid Range Salary
90,000

Maximum Salary
200,000

Offer Information

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Benefits

Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee discount programs

Position Status
Full Time

Working Hours

Standard Hours
37.50

Daily Work Shift

Work Arrangement

This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.

Union Description
Post Docs - Regular Salaried

Payroll Designation
PeopleSoft

Seniority Unit

Terms of Appointment
Staff - 12 month

Position Pension Eligibility
ABP

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Candidates in ABD status (all but degree) will also be considered.
• If the applicant graduated within 1 year from a PhD or MD training program, no other experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience in electrophysiology, neural signal analysis, computational neuroscience, or preclinical neuroscience research.
• Experience with statistical analysis, scientific visualization, reproducible data management, and quantitative interpretation of experimental results.

Certifications/Licenses

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong quantitative and programming skills (e.g., MATLAB, Python, R, or comparable platforms).
• Solid background in signal processing, statistics, time-series analysis, network science, or computational neuroscience.
• Excellent written, verbal and computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to work independently and/or collaboratively.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior postdoctoral experience is not required.
• Relevant experience in neuroscience, electrophysiology, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or preclinical research is preferred.
• Proficient with scientific computing and data-analysis software; experience with MATLAB, Python, R, or related platforms is strongly preferred.
• Experience with intracranial EEG (iEEG/ECoG/SEEG) or multichannel animal electrophysiology.
• Familiarity with epilepsy, seizure dynamics, ictogenesis, neuromodulation, or neural network analysis.
• Experience with small-animal stereotactic surgery, viral-vector or intracranial injections, electrode implantation, optogenetics, or electrical stimulation.
• Experience with Granger causality, effective connectivity, graph-theoretical analysis, event-triggered analysis, or related computational methods.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications and interest in developing an independent research program

Equipment Utilized

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Physical Demands: Standing, sitting, walking, talking, and hearing. Experience working in a fast-paced environment. Lab environment. Lifting to 25lbs.
• Work Environment: Open office environment. Moderate noise and foot traffic.

Special Conditions

Posting Details

Posting Number
26ST1842

Posting Open Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

Regional Campus
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS)

Home Location Campus
Piscataway (RBHS)

City
Piscataway

State
NJ

Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements
Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.