Postdoctoral Associate

Position Details Position Information Recruitment/Posting Title Postdoctoral Associate Job Category Staff & Executive - Research (Laboratory/Non-Laboratory) Department University Behavioral Health Overview Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC), established in 1971, offers a full continuum of evidence based behavioral health and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors throughout New Jersey. UBHC's 1,060 experienced behavioral health professionals and support staff are dedicated to treatment, prevention, and education. UBHC, one of the largest providers of behavioral health care in the country, has a budget of $260 million and has 15 sites throughout New Jersey. Services are readily accessible and include: inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, screening, crisis stabilization, family/caregiver support, community outreach and case management, supportive housing, supported employment, prevention and consultation, employee assistance programs, and a licensed therapeutic school from preschool through high school. Specialty services include the New Jersey suicide prevention helpline and peer help lines for police, veterans, active military, teachers, mothers of special needs children and child protective service workers. In FY2016, UBHC treated 16,199 consumers, had 24,502 admissions, and touched the lives of 19,441 individual callers through peer support. In addition, UBHC is the primary mental health training resource for the New Jersey departments of Human Services, Children and Families, and Corrections, delivering 16,000 trainings each year. Posting Summary Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate for the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research & Rutgers-Princeton Center for Computational Cognitive Neuro-Psychiatry in University Behavioral Health Care. The primary purpose of the Postdoctoral Associate is to contribute to ongoing projects and have the opportunity to develop independent research aligned with the aims of the Addiction & Decision Neuroscience Lab (ADN). Current work focuses on cognitive modeling of decision-making in both laboratory tasks and real-world settings, as well as machine learning and multivariate decoding of neuroimaging data to predict subjective experiences and individual differences. Successful candidates will be supported in building a research program at the intersection of these areas. Postdoctoral Associate will collaborate with the Principal Investigator and team to design, conduct, and publish analyses using existing datasets that longitudinally sample cognitive decision processes and/or integrate neuroimaging and detailed phenotypic data to investigate mechanisms relevant to addiction and recovery. We are seeking a Postdoctoral Associate to join the Addiction & Decision Neuroscience Lab ( led by Dr. Anna Konova and located at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research (CAHBIR). The ADN Lab conducts decision neuroscience research with clinical applications to addiction and other mental health concerns. Our work draws on methods from psychology, experimental economics, human neuroscience, and computational psychiatry. Ongoing projects span clinical studies of addiction recovery to experimental research on how people construct value, experience subjective states like craving and affect, and make health-related decisions. We use a range of techniques, including cognitive tasks administered in the lab and on smartphones, functional MRI (including densely sampled, precision imaging), and clinical assessment and phenotyping. By combining these tools with theoretical models, we aim to understand how the brain supports thoughts, emotions, and decisions-and how disruptions or biases in these processes impact mental health and addictive behavior. CAHBIR ( is a state-of-the-art brain imaging facility featuring a research-dedicated 3T Prisma MRI scanner, an EEG/TMS suite, high-speed access to high-performance computing, and shared lab space with other neuroimaging groups. The Postdoctoral Associate will also have opportunities for collaboration with investigators affiliated with the Rutgers-Princeton Center for Computational Cognitive Neuro-Psychiatry (CCNP; including through an NIH-funded center on Latent Cause Inference ( Together, CAHBIR, the CCNP, and a broad network of Rutgers-affiliated clinical partners provide an exceptional environment for training in clinically focused computational and cognitive neuroscience research. Among the key duties of this position are the following: * Perform neuroimaging data analyses and/or cognitive modeling of behavioral data, including linking these data to clinical outcomes. * Take a lead role in communicating the results of neuroimaging and computational studies through scientific journal articles and conference presentations. * Work with the research team to ensure conformance with the quality standards of the research lab. * Keep detailed records of procedures, experiments, and code. * Assist with grant submissions and IRB protocol preparation. * Supervise graduate and undergraduate students as well as research assistants conducting research in the laboratory. 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 MD/PhD in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, computational psychiatry, or a related field is required. * Proficiency with programming and data analysis using at least one of MATLAB, Python, or R is required. Certifications/Licenses Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities * Enthusiastic, curious, and having excellent communication skills, including writing skills as evidenced by first-author publications or preprints, is required. * Strong organizational, planning, project management, and problem-solving skills. * Ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams. * The successful candidate is expected to have experience with advanced functional neuroimaging data analysis methods and/or cognitive computational modeling. Preferred Qualifications * Previous experience working with patient populations is desired but not required. * Experience with cognitive task design or working with densely sampled longitudinal datasets is desired but not required. Equipment Utilized Physical Demands and Work Environment PHYSICALDEMANDS; Standing, sitting, walking, talking or hearing. Manual dexterity and vision sufficient for standard laboratory and computer operations. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Lab environment. Moderate noise. Travel to various sites/locations. Special Conditions Posting Details Posting Number 26ST1566 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. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). * * Do you have a PhD, MD or MD/PhD in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, computational psychiatry, or a related field? * Yes * No * * Do you have proficiency with programming and data analysis using at least one of MATLAB, Python, or R? * Yes * No * * Do you have experience with advanced functional neuroimaging data analysis methods and/or cognitive computational modeling? * Yes * No * * Do you have writing skills as evidenced by first-author publications or preprints? * Yes * No Applicant Documents Required Documents * Resume/CV Optional Documents * Cover Letter/Letter of Application