Monday, January 7, 2013

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience at Georgetown University


The Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery and the laboratory of Professor Elissa Newport, director, are seeking a postdoctoral fellow capable of taking a leadership role in a new line of research focused on language, cognitive, and motor development after perinatal stroke, as compared with recovery of the same functions in adults after stroke to similar cortical areas.  The research involves longitudinal research, observing and testing infants and young children who have suffered a perinatal stroke to the left or right hemisphere; and cross-sectional research, observing and testing older children and young adults who have grown up after the same type of stroke, or adults who have experienced a comparable stroke during adulthood.  Our aim is understand how reorganization of cortical functions occurs after stroke early versus late in life.  The research will involve both behavioral and fMRI tasks, with a particular focus on fMRI and DTI analyses in both children and adults.  Our research team includes developmental cognitive scientists and cognitive neuroscientists, adult and pediatric stroke neurologists, and experts in fMRI with children and adults.  Candidates with experience in both language/cognitive development and fMRI research are preferred.  The research will take place at Georgetown University Medical Center, Children’s National Medical Center, and the National Rehabilitation Hospital, all in Washington DC and all affiliated within the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery.  Start date is anytime from January through July 2013, whenever a top candidate is identified.

Interested applicants should submit a CV and statement of research interests and background, and request 3 letters of recommendation, sent to Professor Elissa L. Newport, Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University, at eln10@georgetown.edu.

Post Doctoral and RA positions, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute


The Language and Aphasia Lab of MRRI (www.mrri.org) invites applications for expected openings at the postdoctoral and RA levels, starting Summer/Fall 2013.  Under the direction of Dr. Myrna Schwartz, our lab conducts NIH-funded research on language processing in typical speakers and individuals with aphasia.  We seek to advance understanding of how words are learned and retrieved in speech, how these processes are affected by stroke, and how word production deficits can be ameliorated by treatment. MRRI and MossRehab, part of the Einstein Healthcare Network, are located in Philadelphia and Elkins Park, PA.  We offer our employees unparalleled career opportunities including competitive compensation, attractive benefits plan including medical/dental/vision coverage, generous vacation time, and tuition reimbursement.  EOE

Postdoctoral Position
Announcing a 2-year post-doctoral position on Dr. Schwartz’s long-running RO1 on aphasia, which supports multi-site collaborations with computational psycholinguist, Gary S. Dell, and behavioral neurologist, H. Branch Coslett.  In the current grant cycle, we are exploring how normal and aphasic word production is influenced by cognitive learning, with the aim of enhancing neural plasticity and treatment outcomes.  The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to contribute to ongoing projects and develop new lines of research related to this general theme.  Applicants should have a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, or speech and hearing sciences; a track record in research; and one or more first-authored, peer-reviewed publications.  Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in combining behavioral and EEG/ERP approaches.  Please apply by email to mschwart@einstein.edu; include a cover letter, CV, and the names and email addresses of 3 individuals who can be contacted for letters of recommendation.

Research Assistant Position

The Language and Aphasia Lab of MRRI is also accepting applications from individuals with BA or BS degrees for a full-time research assistant position.  Our RAs gain valuable experience with language-impaired patients. They are trained to administer clinical measures of aphasia and to design, run, and analyze experiments with patients as participants. Learning opportunities also include state-of-the art lesion analysis and applications of computational modeling.  Applicants should have strong academic backgrounds in psychology, neuroscience or linguistics, with coursework in statistics and research methods. Preference will be given to applicants with prior research experience, particularly in cognitive psychology, speech and hearing sciences, or linguistics.  Email cover letter, C.V. (which includes a list of relevant coursework) and contact information for three references to Dr. Erica Middleton: middleer@einstein.edu