Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Translational Neurocircuitry and Neuromodulation Lab

A postdoctoral fellow position is available in the Translational Neurocircuitry and Neuromodulation Laboratory (TNNLab) in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston.

The laboratory uses a cross-species, multimodal neuroimaging and neuromodulation framework to study the neural circuitry underlying psychiatric disorders, with a particular focus on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and stress-related psychopathology.

Current projects integrate non-human primate tract-tracing, advanced human neuroimaging (fMRI, diffusion MRI, fNIRS, EEG), computational modeling, machine learning, and real-time fMRI neurofeedback to develop circuit-based biomarkers and precision interventions.

The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in experimental design, data acquisition, analysis, manuscript preparation, and supporting grant writing, and will have opportunities to develop independent research directions and funding applications. Interested candidates should email a cover letter describing their research interests, motivation, and career goals, a curriculum vitae, and the contact information for three references to Dr. Lucas Trambaiolli (lucas.trambaiolli@uth.tmc.edu).

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100%25 paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

A biomedical postdoc position provides an opportunity for early-career researchers to gain valuable experience, develop independent research skills, and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge in their field of expertise.

Position Key Accountabilities:

1.    Plans and conducts experiments, analyzes data, and prepares publications describing results.
2.    Assists in training and mentoring of lab personnel, including graduate students and other trainees.
3.    Reads and evaluates literature.
4.    Possess interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate and communicate with individuals at all levels.
5.    Have strong written and oral communication skills. 
6.    Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:

Doctoral/Terminal Degree. Applicants must hold a PhD or MD/PhD in Neuroscience, Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, or related fields.

Candidates within their final year of PhD or MD/PhD training are especially encouraged to apply.

Preferred Experience: 

Prior experience with neuroimaging analysis (e.g., fMRI, fNIRS, EEG), programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python, Linux environments), and/or neuroimaging software tools (e.g., AFNI, FSL, SPM, FreeSurfer) is required.

Experience working with human participants in clinical or translational research settings is highly desirable.

Excellent organizational and communication (verbal and written) skills, attention to detail, ability to work independently, and a strong commitment to collaborative, team-based science are essential.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.