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The Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience in the Division of Digestive Diseases at the University of California Los Angeles is seeking a full time postdoctoral scholar for an R01-funded project studying the brain-gut microbiome mechanisms of action underlying obesity. The Center is a multidisciplinary team conducting clinical, translational and basic research with human populations. The postdoctoral scholar will work directly with Dr. Arpana “Annie” Gupta, and other faculty collaborators.

This project uses multimodal MRI sequences combined with measures of the gut microbiome and dimensional neuropsychiatric behavioral measures (i.e. tasks, questionnaires, heart rate variability, digital phenotyping, cognitive and clinical measures) to study structural and functional circuit dynamics in obesity.

There will be opportunities to develop translational and clinical research skills (e.g. target discovery, individualized treatment development and biomarker/predictor development), in addition to analysis methods and pipelines to address basic and pathophysiological systems biology questions. There will be many opportunities to lead high impact publications starting on day one. We will be working with existing unique datasets in addition to creating new ones. Extensive mentorship will be provided to facilitate the transition to an independent research career.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Model complex datasets including imaging, gut microbiome, inflammation, behavioral and clinical data.
2. Coordinate the acquisition of data working with a team of research assistants.
3. Be able to contribute to grants and publish manuscripts.

Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in Engineering, Epidemiology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field.
2. Strong proficiency and independence with large data analysis platforms (such as neuroimaging or microbiome platforms), multivariate modeling strategies and network connectivity analyses.
3. Established quantitative and statistical skills, including strong programming skills and comfort with diverse computing environments. Comfortable using R.
4. Background in bioinformatics systems/cognitive neuroscience, neuroanatomy or psychological/clinical constructs.
5. A demonstrated capacity to write first author publications.
6. Great writing skills, motivated and driven to publish.

Additional Qualifications:

1. Connectomics network analysis and machine learning modeling confer a very significant advantage.

The shared values of the DGSOM are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms our unswerving commitment to doing what’s right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. Please read more about this important DGSOM program at https://medschool.ucla.edu/cultural-north-star.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.