Senior Scientist (Dr Balchandani's Lab) - Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Institute

The Senior Scientist will primarily provide scientific and technical leadership for a multidisciplinary clinical research program focused on improving localization of the epileptogenic zone in drug-resistant epilepsy using advanced multimodal MRI techniques. This role centers on the integration of magnetic resonance elastography, diffusion-weighted imaging, arterial spin labeling, and high-field MRI (3T/7T) with clinical, electrophysiologic, and histopathological data to identify novel imaging biomarkers associated with astrogliosis, tissue biomechanics, and cerebral perfusion.

The Senior Scientist will drive study design, oversee execution of complex imaging protocols, and lead translational efforts aimed at enhancing surgical planning and patient outcomes. This individual will work closely with clinicians, imaging scientists, and data analysts, contributing innovative approaches and maintaining high productivity in a collaborative research environment.

The Senior Scientist will be expected to collaborate with academic partners in other scientific projects, supporting relevant imaging protocol developments, data post-processing and analysis, as well as mentor and train graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff. With a broad range of skills and experience, this individual will be critical component of the Principal Investigator's laboratory, participating and assisting in leading collaborative research projects focused on advancing neuroimaging method for clinical applications.

Responsibilities

• Designs and leads complex clinical imaging studies to develop and evaluate advanced MR imaging techniques for applications in neurological diseases.
• Develops and optimizes multimodal MRI protocols (including 3T and 7T structural imaging, DWI, MRE, 4D flow and ASL) for quantitative assessment of brain stiffness, microstructure, viscoelastic properties, and cerebral blood flow.
• Investigates the relationship between quantitative neuroimaging MR measures.
• Establishes diagnostic thresholds and validation frameworks for imaging-based identification of neurological abnormalities.
• Analyzes and interprets multimodal imaging datasets alongside electrophysiologic, clinical, and histopathological data to identify disease-specific biomarkers.
• Develops hypotheses and analytical methodologies to evaluate links between imaging biomarkers and clinical outcome.
• Leads dissemination of research findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and scientific seminars.
• Assists with, prepares and submits competitive research proposals to secure funding for ongoing and future studies in advanced neuroimaging.
• Collaborates with neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, and bioengineering teams to translate imaging advances into clinical applications for diagnostic or treatment planning.
• May supervise graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff, providing mentorship in imaging science and clinical research methodologies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ph.D in sciences or related field
• Minimum five years of experience with scientific investigation.
• Must have demonstrated outstanding achievement in a field of research (MRI research)
• Must have contributed to a number of peer-reviewed publications, inventions or the like, at least some of which have had a major impact on advancing the field or discipline.
• Prior experience successfully securing external grant funding is highly desirable.
• Highly Preferred:
  • Demonstrated experience in high and ultra-high field MR-imaging (3T, 7T) of the brain
  • Demonstrated experience in MRI pulse sequence programming, preferably Siemens IDEA
  • Demonstrated experience in MRI reconstruction and quantitative parameter mapping
  • Demonstrated programming skills in MATLAB, Python and other relevant neuroimaging processing software (FSL, Freesurfer, MRtrix, SPM, etc.)
  • Ability to communicate research to public and collaborators
  • Experience in any subset of: MR elastography, diffusion MRI, high resolution structural MRI, perfusion MRI, or cerebral blood/CSF flow MRI Image reconstruction

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