Job Opportunities

Research Specialist Position

The Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience and Development (CAND) lab focuses on investigating the neurodevelopment of emotion processing and regulation in typically developing youth as well as those diagnosed with or at risk of anxiety and mood disorders. The Research Specialist will be responsible for screening potential subjects, completing semi-structured clinical interviews (based on psychiatric diagnoses) with adolescents and their parents, administer a neuroimaging protocol, and oversee other research procedures.

For more information and to apply, please see job posting here: Research Specialist in Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC

Post-doctoral Associate Position

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to support and contribute to research as a Post-doctoral Associate on a recently NIMH-funded project in adolescent depression. The applicant’s main appointment will be in the Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience and Development (CAND) Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. The research project employs a dimensional multi-modal approach (e.g., fMRI, DTI, actigraphy) within a longitudinal design to identify neural, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional markers of manic symptoms in adolescent depression. Identifying such markers has important clinical implications such as improving early detection of manic symptoms in depressed youth and informing personalized interventions for depression with mixed features. For this project, the post-doctoral associate will be working with Cecile Ladouceur, PhD and Rasim Diler, MD.

In addition to this project, the CAND lab has several ongoing projects including: a) characterizing the influence of pubertal maturation and pubertal hormones on the neural regions supporting emotion regulation and reward processing in adolescents as a way of identifying potential vulnerabilities to psychopathology; b) examining the development of neural systems underlying social threat and social reward (e.g., feedback from peers) in relation to approach-avoidance behavior in temperamentally anxious adolescent girls to understand trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms; c) examining the neural and behavioral mechanisms and predictors of treatment response in anxious youth; d) investigating neural systems of cognitive control of emotion and reward in childhood-onset ADHD.

We seek an exceptional Ph.D. researcher with a degree in psychology, neuroscience or related field. The ideal candidate will have an excellent publication record with demonstrated interest in developmental cognitive and affective neuroscience and psychopathology. This position requires prior experience in functional neuroimaging methodology and advanced statistical analysis. Experience with Matlab programming, neuroimaging software (e.g., SPM, AFNI, FSL, etc.), and data management is preferred. Additional knowledge in developmental or clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, functional neuroanatomy would be an asset, as are the following characteristics: strong publication record that includes neuroimaging studies; strength in research methods; excellent organizational and writing skills; demonstrated ability to take initiative and follow through; and good collaborator with the ability to function well independently. This position offers the opportunity to work in a high quality research environment with strong clinical and scientific collaborations with local and national world-renowned psychiatry researchers.

The position is housed in the Department of Psychiatry which has a long-standing tradition of providing a stimulating learning environment that allows for effective educational experiences for all of its trainees. Appropriately preparing the next generation of clinicians and researchers is at the heart of the Department’s mission. The Department provides a career and research development seminar for postdoctoral research fellows that teaches grant-writing and other career development skills designed to support a future independent research career.

The position is currently open, but start date is negotiable. Applicants should be willing to commit to a minimum two-year appointment. For more information, please email Dr. Ladouceur.