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Postdoctoral Associate: Neuronal Population Dynamics & Neural Control Engineering

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Postdoctoral Associate Positions to Conduct Research on Neuronal Population Dynamics and Neural Control Engineering

The Neuromodulation Research Center (NMRC), directed by Dr. Jerrold Vitek MD, PhD, seeks three postdoctoral researchers to join its interdisciplinary team. Interested candidates will join dedicated, collaborative researchers working to advance neuromodulation therapies for those living with neurological disorders. In the heart of Minnesota’s ‘Medical Alley, our translational research brings together experts from neurology, neurosurgery, neuroscience, engineering, radiology, and beyond. The NMRC is part of the Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Research awarded to the University of Minnesota in 2016. For more information, visit nmrc.umn.edu.

Successful candidates for these positions will apply engineering techniques to the analysis of neuronal population dynamics in Parkinson’s disease and the development of feedback control techniques for patient-specific deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies in pre-clinical and clinical settings. Candidates for these positions should apply for one of three research areas described as follows.  

Clinical Research on Closed-Loop DBS

This placement will focus on the design, implementation, and testing of feedback control techniques aimed to optimize DBS therapies in Parkinson’s disease patients. The postdoctoral researcher working in this position will have the opportunity to be involved in clinical research with patients receiving DBS implants.

Required Qualifications:

  • PhD in control engineering or related science/engineering field with background in:
  • Feedback control systems
  • Signal processing and data analysis
  • System identification and mathematical modeling of dynamical systems

Desired Qualifications:

  • Systems neuroscience
  • Kinematics and robotics
  • Development of software tools using MATLAB/Simulink
  • Real-time systems

*Pre-clinical Research on Neuronal Population Dynamics

The postdoctoral researcher working in this placement will study the collective dynamics of neuronal populations in Parkinson’s disease and the effect of DBS therapy on these dynamics. The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to access and analyze large sets of neural data available in the NMRC.

Required Qualifications:

  • PhD in engineering, applied mathematics, neuroscience or related field with background in:
  • Signal processing and data analysis 

  • System identification and mathematical modeling of dynamical systems 

  • Graduate-level linear algebra and differential equations 


Desired Qualifications:

  • Systems neuroscience
  • Brain machine interfaces
  • Kinematic analysis
  • Development of software tools using MATLAB/Simulink

Pre-clinical Research in Brain Connectivity and Feedback Control to Optimize DBS

The postdoctoral researcher working in this placement will focus on studying how Parkinson’s disease alters effective connectivity in brain circuits responsible for movement control and investigating feedback control techniques aimed to restore function in these circuits. The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to apply engineering methods to the development and testing of next generation DBS therapies.

Required Qualifications:

  • PhD in control engineering or related science/engineering field with background in:
  • Feedback control systems
  • Signal processing and data analysis
  • System identification and mathematical modeling of dynamical systems
  • Real-time systems

Desired Qualifications:

  • Systems neuroscience
  • Kinematics and robotics
  • Development of software tools using MATLAB/Simulink

If you are interested in one of the aforementioned placements or would like to know more about them, please contact Dr. David Escobar at descobar@umn.edu. Please include your CV and indicate in which area you are most interested. All formal applications must be made through the University of Minnesota job portal at https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job under job code 328604.

Company

The Neuromodulation Research Center (NMRC) is a large collaborative entity that brings together the University of Minnesota’s experts from neurology, neurosurgery, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, radiology and other disciplines that share a focus to advance the understanding of brain conditions and diseases and the neuromodulation therapies that can help improve them. The NMRC enables a unique “bench to bedside” experience that drives translational research and the University’s discovery and health innovation missions. Being located within the heart of Minnesota’s Medical Device Alley further enriches the center’s impact through external industry collaborations and the state’s MnDrive initiative.

Jerrold L. Vitek, M.D., Ph.D., is the Chair of the Department of Neurology, Director of the NMRC and Center Director of the University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease. Professor Vitek fosters a collaborative and team-focused approach to projects that enables many funded initiatives. One of the main themes of the team’s research focuses on the medical and surgical treatment of movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and tremor. Studying the pathophysiology of these conditions from many perspectives reveals new potential treatment avenues. Similarly, the unique therapy of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is being tested and studied from many angles to reveal its mechanisms, potential new applications, and better ways to navigate the brain. 

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