Job post link: https://www.uab.edu/postdocs/post-doc-openings/postdocs-in-biomedical-sciences/552-h202801
A postdoctoral position is available immediately to join our ongoing projects focused on the quantification and analysis of multimodality molecular neuroimaging with an emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases. The infrastructure and research environment supporting molecular neuroimaging at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine are outstanding and include a Tr-24 ASCI cyclotron, a simultaneous PET/MRI system for human imaging, and NIH support including an Udall Parkinson’s Disease Center of Excellence (PI David Standaert; P50NS108675) and an Exploratory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (PI Erik Roberson; P20AG068024). This research will be conducted in a multidisciplinary setting that includes basic and translational scientists as well as clinical researchers.
- Requirements:
The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Medical Physics or a related field. Applicants with a background in medical image analysis and/or post-processing are preferred. Proficiency in MATLAB programming is required. Prior experience and knowledge in neuroimaging, particularly with PET and/or MRI, and neurodegenerative diseases are desired but not required. Applicants should demonstrate research productivity with preference given to candidates with significant publications and interest in grant writing opportunities.
Candidates should email a cover letter, CV and contact information of at least two references to Drs. Jonathan McConathy at jmcconathy@uabmc.edu and Dean Fang at yfang@uabmc.edu.
- Mentors:
Dr. McConathy joined UAB Radiology in 2015 where he is an Associate Professor of Radiology and serves as the Director of Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics (MI&T) and the Advanced Imaging Facility (AIF) at UAB. He is dually boarded in nuclear medicine and radiology and leads the imaging cores for the UAB Udall and ADRC Centers. His research focuses on PET tracer development and translation for multimodality molecular neuroimaging including PET/MRI for measuring amyloid, tau, neuroinflammation and brain tumor metabolism.
Dr. Fang joined UAB Radiology in 2019 as an Associate Professor of Radiology. He has worked on medical image processing for more than twenty years. Specifically, he focuses on the image quantification and feature extraction from PET, SPECT, CT and MR. In addition to developing methods for automatic and robust feature extraction, his group has widely collaborated with radiologists and physicians to develop models for diagnosis and outcome prediction with image-based features on neural, oncological and cardiovascular diseases. His group continues to develop algorithms for feature extraction while extending the research interest to deep learning models for image classification in recent years.
Drs. McConathy and Fang work together closely on many of these image analysis projects, and together their mentorship will provide an excellent environment for post-doctoral scholars to further extend their technical skillset over scientific computation, modeling, advanced classifiers, translational research, software development and deep learning. Post-doctoral research scholars will also enjoy extensive opportunities to collaborate with UAB researchers and physicians on a wide variety of challenging topics of clinical research and imaging studies.
- About our Postdoc Office:
UAB is committed to the development and success of outstanding postdoctoral scientists. Here at UAB, nearly 300 postdoctoral fellows are training currently in a variety of disciplines. Competitive postdoc awards are available including internships, grant incentives, funds to enhance education and collaboration outside UAB, and teaching opportunities at local universities. There is also a Postdoc Research Day with monetary awards. The Office of Postdoctoral Education strongly encourages UAB research mentors to follow the National Research Service Award stipend level guidelines, and postdoctoral scholars qualify for health, life, and other insurances. They also have the right to participate in the university’s 403(b) program and enjoy vacation, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, and other benefits.
About the University:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic health center that discovers, teaches, and applies knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state, and beyond. UAB is internationally renowned for its intensely collaborative culture that has — for more than five decades — produced breakthroughs in education, health care, research, and service. UAB was ranked #1 in the United States, and in the top 10 worldwide, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2018 Young University Rankings.
Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with some 25,000 employees and has an annual, state-wide economic impact exceeding $7.15 billion. U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 14 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and 10 UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2018-2019 Best Hospitals report. UAB research grants and awards are at a record high, exceeding $527 million in FY18, including $320 million in NIH funding for FY18. UAB ranks 31st among all universities in federal research funding and 15th among public universities. UAB’s NIH funding continues to grow among peer institutions in the Southeast and beyond, with the university ranking 20th among all universities in NIH funding and eighth among public universities. The UAB School of Medicine is ranked 21st among medical schools in NIH funding and eighth among public medical schools.
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity, and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.
For more information on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at UAB, visit the UAB Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or call (205) 934-8762. Or contact the office at 701 20th Street South, AB 336, Birmingham, AL 35294-0103.