The Neurocircuitry of Trauma and PTSD (NeuroTaP) Lab and Institute for Early Life Adversity Research, both part of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Austin at Texas Dell Medical School, are recruiting for a postdoctoral fellow, beginning summer of 2022 (though start date is flexible).
The fellow would receive research training and experience in neuroimaging, computational modeling of decision-making, multivariate pattern analysis, and emerging cognitive neuroscience models of PTSD through close involvement in a large program of federally funded research. On-going projects include 1) a clinical trial testing whether increased dopaminergic signaling can enhance consolidation of therapeutic learning during exposure therapy using outcome measures including self-report, psychophysiology, and neuroimaging (NIMH R61/R33 MH108753), 2) a cross-sectional neuroimaging study investigating computational biases in learning and decision-making for threat and reward as a function of trauma exposure and PTSD symptom severity (NIMH R01 MH119132), and 3) experimental investigations of the impact of acute aerobic exercise on model-based learning for reward and generalization of fear extinction learning among individuals with and without PTSD. There would be numerous opportunities for manuscript and grant writing towards the goal of launching the fellow on a trajectory towards a successful and productive academic career. This position is ideally suited for submission of an NIH Loan Repayment Plan award as well as submission for additional mentored and independent funding.
It is expected that the fellow would have prior experience with neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, and basic skills in statistical programming (e.g., R, Matlab, AFNI, Python).
The primary mentor for the fellowship would be Josh Cisler, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, and Associate Director of the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research. Additional closely collaborating faculty and research mentors would include Joseph Dunsmoor, Elizabeth Lippard, Greg Fonzo, Kevin Crombie, Charles Nemeroff, Valerie Rosen, Jeff Newport, Suzannah Creech, and others within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science.
Interested applicants should send a CV and brief statement of interest to Josh Cisler:
josh.cisler@austin.utexas.edu
