The Psychophysiology Laboratory at New York State Psychiatric Institute (
http://psychophysiology.cpmc.columbia.edu/) and the Department of Psychiatry of Columbia University (Area: Epidemiology and Population Science) is seeking a full-time, enthusiastic,
post-doctoral research scientist. The laboratory headed by Dr. Jurgen Kayser conducts research on cognitive and neurophysiological function in schizophrenia and depressive disorders and will become part of a newly-created EEG core at NYSPI. The position will
remain open until the appropriate candidates are identified.
BACKGROUND: This position will be linked to several ongoing research projects, including two 2-yr NIMH-funded studies. An ongoing project, EEG/ERP Measures of Attention and Cognitive Control During New Auditory WM Tasks, employs behavioral measures in
combination with event-related potentials (ERPs) and oscillations (EROs) to dissociate perceptual, attentional and cognitive control processes and investigate how impairments in these functions affect cognitive processing in schizophrenia. A new project, MDD
Treatment Response and Functional Connectivity of Brain Regions via Reference-free EEG: Further Development and Integration of Biomarkers Using Multisite EMBARC, seeks to delineate the relationship of posterior alpha current source density (CSD) and rostral
anterior cingulate cortex theta current density (LORETA). Additional engagement in two other ongoing projects that investigate EEG biomarkers in a longitudinal study of families at high risk for major depressive disorder is expected. The candidate will have
multiple opportunities to be part of ongoing basic and clinical research projects.
This position is for an individual with extensive experience in electrophysiologic methods, particularly EEG oscillations and time-frequency analysis. The candidate will be interested in applying these methods to develop new analytic strategies for EEG/ERP
studies in psychiatric patients (depression and schizophrenia) and healthy adults. Duties include development and/or modification of Matlab scripts (EEGLAB), analyses of existing EEG/ERP data, scholarly dissemination of findings, and creatively contributing
to a team of experienced electrophysiologists and researchers.
The applicant should have a PhD degree in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or a related discipline, and experience conducting cognitive and/or electrophysiologic research. Expertise in time-frequency analysis using EEGLAB and/or Matlab is essential.
Expertise in time-frequency analysis using EEGLAB and/or Matlab is essential. Working knowledge of reference-free analytic approaches (inverse modeling, scalp current source density) and multivariate data decomposition (PCA, ICA) is desirable, and familiarity
with other programming languages (Pascal, C++, Python) and/or statistical packages (SPSS, R, mPlus, BMDP) is an additional asset. Preference will be given to individuals interested in pursuing a research career in Psychopathology, Cognitive Neuroscience, and/or
Psychophysiology who are eager and determined to acquire research funding.