Post-Doctoral Associate: Sleep-specific DBS for Parkinson's Disease

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Job ID374550

LocationTwin Cities

Job FamilyAcademic

Full/Part TimeFull-Time

Regular/TemporaryRegular

Job Code9546

Employee ClassAcad Prof and Admin

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About the Job

Position Summary:

The Neuromodulation Research Center (NMRC) at the University of Minnesota is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate to study the brain mechanisms involved in disordered sleep in

Parkinson's disease (PD) and develop sleep-specific deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies. Under the direction of Luke Johnson, PhD and Jerrold Vitek, MD PhD, the Post-Doctoral Associate will work collaboratively within the NMRC on a clinical research project and have the unique opportunity to perform cortical and subcortical electrophysiological recordings across the sleep- wake cycle in patients receiving DBS implants. The Post-Doctoral Associate may also be involved in a study utilizing high-field 7T MRI fiber tractography and computational modeling to associate pathway activation patterns with sleep outcomes following clinically optimized DBS in PD patients. The Post-Doctoral Associate's research will provide a better understanding of the brain circuitry involved in disordered sleep in PD, contribute to the development of electrophysiological based strategies (e.g., closed-loop DBS) for the treatment of sleep-wake disturbances, and provide the rationale for selection of DBS targets and programming settings in PD patients for whom sleep disturbances play a major role in their disease.

We are a large collaborative research team and part of the NIH funded University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence in PD Research (Center Director: Jerrold Vitek MD

PhD). Our research involves collaborations across multiple fields including Neurology, Neurosurgery, Biomedical Engineering, Radiology, and Biostatistics. We also have a

robust preclinical translational research program that includes sleep studies in the nonhuman primate model of PD. Together this provides a vibrant training and research environment for

the Post-Doctoral Associate.

The candidate should have a strong quantitative background and signal processing expertise appropriate for the analysis of neural activity. Candidates with a background in sleep

physiology are especially encouraged to apply.

Work Schedule: Hybrid, M-F, 8:30am - 5pm

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

75% Research Duties: Data collection, analysis, method development, publication of results in manuscripts, proceedings, and conference abstracts.

10% Supervision and Project Management: Manage junior lab members, and volunteers to ensure timely completion of project aims.

5% Career Development: Professional skills, leadership training, technical skills development.

5% Outreach: Patient/community outreach, Industry Partnerships.

5% Travel: Attending/presenting at local/national/international conferences.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

PhD in Neuroscience, BME, ECE, or similar field.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with others.

Strong quantitative background and signal processing expertise appropriate for the analysis of neural activity.

Strong record of presenting research results through publications and conference abstracts.

Preferred Qualifications:

Programming in MATLAB.

A background in sleep physiology.

About the Department

To learn more about the Department of Neurology, please visit https://med.umn.edu/neurology.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $65,480 annually - $79,076 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off

Continuous learning opportunities through professional training

Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans

Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts

University HSA contributions

Disability and life insurance

Employee wellbeing program

Financial counseling services

Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.

Minimum Education Required

Associate Degree

Minimum Experience Required

None

Shift

First (Day)

Number of Openings

1

Public Transportation Accessible

Yes

Veterans Encouraged to Apply

No

Physical Required

Yes

Drug Test Required

Yes

Compensation

$11.41 / Hourly

Postal Code

55455

Job Type

Full Time

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

374550

Job Benefits

Not specified