Job Description

The Neural Dynamics and Neural Engineering Lab at Virginia Tech has an opening for a Research and Laboratory Coordinator position in computational neuroscience. The research project will involve employing biophysically based computational models to examine the role of rhythmic activity in the expression of emotional memories during behavior and their consolidation during sleep. An additional aim is to employ the newly developed models to gain insight into the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Our lab investigates neural dynamics during active behavior and during offline states, such as sleep, using a combination of computational modeling, signal processing techniques, and both invasive and non-invasive techniques for recording neural activity. The basic science knowledge gathered from these investigations is leveraged to understand how memories are instantiated in the brain, to gain insight into how learning occurs during brain-machine interface (BMI) tasks, to improve BMI algorithms, and to develop the framework for stimulation and pharmacological therapies for diseases, especially those marked by abnormal neural dynamics during sleep (e.g., posttraumatic sleep disorder (PTSD) and Parkinson's disease).||Please see the lab website (www.vijayan.neuroscience.vt.edu) for more details.

Through the use of a combination of computational modeling, signal processing techniques, and both invasive and non-invasive techniques for recording neural activity, the Research and Laboratory Coordinator will work with the PI on research projects in the lab. Research involving the rhythmic interactions, especially in the theta band, between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and limbic structures will be a primary focus. This person will assist in the investigation of how rhythmic interactions lead to fear extinction during REM sleep using a biophysically based model with the infralimbic cortex (IL) and study connections from the IL to the amygdala and connections from the amygdala to the IL. Work with human subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) REM sleep conditions and seek potential neuromodulatory therapies for the amelioration of PTSD symptoms will take place. Publication of original work is expected with and independently of the PI. Mentorship and original grant proposals will be possible.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in applied mathematics, chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, psychology, or a related field.
• Brain mapping, CT, radar, radio frequency mapping, or related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with large data sets and familiarity with dynamical systems theory.

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$65,000 - $70,000

Review Date

4/21/2023

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.