Post-Doc - University of Minnesota - Rodents/Humans - Noel Lab

[Jean-Paul Noel]

Postdoctoral Associate – Noel Lab, University of Minnesota

The Noel Lab (noel-lab.org) in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota is seeking highly motivated Postdoctoral Associates to join our team. Funded by the Simons Foundation), these positions offer an exciting opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of systems neuroscience and computational modeling.

Our lab is broadly interested in Bayesian inference, perception, multisensory integration, spatial navigation, sensorimotor loops, embodied cognition, and computational psychiatry. We work across levels of analysis—from single neurons to human behavior—using both rodent and human models. This position will focus primarily on rodent research, though exceptional candidates with expertise in human cognitive neuroscience are encouraged to apply.

Position Overview

Successful candidates will lead projects involving:

• Large-scale neurophysiology (e.g., Neuropixels recordings) in awake, behaving rodents.
• Computational modeling and advanced data analysis.

At least one role will be embedded within the newly launched Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE)—a multi-species, international consortium exploring ecological behaviors across rodents, bats, non-human primates, and humans (https://www.simonsfoundation.org/2025/04/24/simons-foundation-launches-collaboration-on-ecological-neuroscience/).

Collaborative Network

You will engage with a global team of scientists, including but not limited to:

• Jan Zimmermann (University of Minnesota)
• Mate Lengyel (Cambridge)
• Daniel Wolpert (Columbia)
• Cris Neill (University of Oregon)
• Andreas Tolias (Stanford)
• Alexander & Mackenzie Mathis (EPFL)
• Constantin Rothkopf (TU Darmstadt)
• Nanthia Suthana (Duke)

Opportunities for travel, data sharing, and joint publications across sites will be plentiful.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field
• Strong publication record
• Interest in understanding perception and decision-making in real-world contexts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python
• Hands-on experience with rodent behavior and surgeries
• Expertise in large-scale neurophysiology and histology
• Skilled in single-cell/population data analysis (e.g., GLMs, decoding)

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in machine learning or computational modeling (Bayesian methods, neural networks, etc.)
• Experience with marker-less video tracking and computer vision
• Experience with CAD design and 3D printing
• Familiarity with relational databases (e.g., SQL)
• Demonstrated success in collaborative research environments

Job Responsibilities

Research (95% effort)

• Design and conduct innovative experiments (e.g., neurophysiology data collection)
• Build and maintain behavioral and neurophysiology rigs (head-fixed and freely-moving paradigms, including video-tracking)
• Rodent surgeries
• Analyze data and contribute to computational models
• Draft high-quality figures, manuscripts, and grant materials
• Present findings at scientific meetings

Mentoring and Instruction (5% effort)

• Mentor students and foster a dynamic, collaborative lab culture.
• Maintain proper documentation and keep standard operating procedures up to date.

How to Apply?

Option 1:

 

https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/367946

 

Option 2:

• Send Dr. Jean-Paul Noel (Noel...@umn.edu) your CV (including publications) and a Cover Letter indicating:
  • Your preferred starting date
  • Your scientific interests and ambitions for the future
  • Dates (and time) at which you would be available for a 30 minute zoom interview.
  • Who may be able to provide a reference letter (letter not required at this stage).

Details

• Salary: $61,008–$71,532/year, commensurate with experience
• Start Date: July 1, 2025 (negotiable)