Professional Opportunities
TWO Tenure-Track Assistant Professor positions in Autism and Developmental Disorders
The College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama (UA) announces an opening for two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in the Center for Innovative Research in Autism (CIRA). This position will be academically housed within the Department of Psychology.
We seek research-focused basic or applied scientists with expertise in autism spectrum disorder or related conditions. The ideal candidate will have an active program of research related to examining the neurobiological mechanisms underlying developmental disorders, especially autism spectrum disorder and the promise of securing external funding. The focus of the first open position is on neuroscience of autism and developmental disorders, although the specialization within neuroscience is open. The second position has a broader focus in autism with specific areas of specialization on topics such as cognitive declines and systematic changes due to aging, epidemiology, transition to adulthood etc. We want applicants who are enthusiastic about collaborating with researchers from other disciplines and working in multi-disciplinary teams. A doctoral degree in Psychology or Neuroscience or other relevant field is required. The Department of Psychology and UA value diversity, equity and inclusion highly and encourage applicants who embrace diversity and can contribute to an open and inclusive academic culture.
Under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Alabama Life Research Institute (ALRI), the CIRA is a state-of-the-art research, training, and education facility that brings together investigators from diverse disciplines who share an interest in autism spectrum disorder. The primary mission of the Center is to facilitate interdisciplinary, innovative research on autism spectrum disorder at UA, secure extramural funding for research and training of faculty and students, serve as a collaborative foundation for autism researchers and other personnel across the university, and to disseminate research findings to improve outcomes for children and adults with autism and their caregivers. In addition to the autism initiatives at UA, we have had significant developments in neuroscience research, including the establishment of an MRI Center that is scheduled to be fully operational from Summer 2022.
As an Assistant Professor in the CIRA, the successful candidate will have an active research lab that involves both undergraduate and graduate students. The candidate will have prior experience with grantsmanship and have high potential of securing extramural research funding. They will be expected to serve as primary advisor to students in their home department’s graduate program as well. Faculty in the CIRA have a reduced teaching load because of the research focus. However, as an Assistant Professor, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels is expected.
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, AL, home of the CrimsonTide football team as well as the historic Bama Theatre, the Paul R. Jones Museum, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, the Tuscaloosa Farmer’s Market, and nearby Kentuck Festival of the Arts and Moundville Archeological Park. The city of Tuscaloosa is very family-friendly and popular with outdoors enthusiasts as it boasts an active concert venue, a popular farmer’s market, the Black Warrior RiverWalk, and many family-focused events throughout the year. The University of Alabama is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and actively seeks diversity among its employees. Minority and women candidates are especially encouraged to apply.
To apply, candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation. Review of applications will begin from October 15, and will continue until the positions are filled. With the exception of letters of recommendation, all materials should be submitted online at https://facultyjobs.ua.edu. Letters of recommendation should be mailed directly to the search committee Chair, Dr. Rajesh Kana, Professor and Director of the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, The University of Alabama, Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0348. Email:rkkana@ua.edu.
For more information, please visit:
Center for Innovative Research in Autism: https://cira.ua.edu
Center for Youth Development and Intervention: https://cydi.ua.edu
College of Arts and Sciences: https://as.ua.edu/
Alabama Life Research Institute: http://ovpred.ua.edu/alabama-life-research-institute/
Department of Psychology: https://psychology.ua.edu/
Department of Communicative Disorders: https://cd.ua.edu
Additional Position Information: UA EEO Statement
The University of Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Search Initiation Date: 09/15/2021 Expected Starting Date: 08/16/2022 Special Instructions to Applicants: Letters of recommendation should be mailed directly to the search committee Chair, Dr. Rajesh Kana, Professor and Director of the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, The University of Alabama, Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0348. Email: rkkana@ua.edu
Student Opportunities
Post-doctoral fellow job position: MRI physicist
A post-doctoral fellow position is available under the direction of Dr. Harrison Kim in the Department of Radiology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). We are seeking candidates focusing on quantitative DCE-MRI and image processing/analysis of pancreatic cancer.
Candidates must have hands-on experience in clinical MRI and computer programing using LabVIEW, MATLAB, IDL, C or C++ for MR image processing and analysis. Experience in B1/T1 mapping and/or pharmacokinetic mapping will be considered strength. Candidates must have a proven track record of successful PhD training as demonstrated by first author publications and presentations in national/international conferences.
Interested candidates should submit (1) curriculum vitae, (2) a brief statement of research background and career goals, and (3) contact information for three references. Letters of reference will only be requested for finalists for the position.
Harrison Kim, PhD, MBA; Associate Professor
Departments of Radiology
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Senior Scientist, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Ph: (205) 996-4088; Email: hyunkikim@uabmc.edu
Two postdoctoral positions are now available at the laboratory of MiYoung Kwon (http://labs.uab.edu/kwon/) in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The lab is funded by the NIH/NEI, Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), and the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama. The research agenda in the lab is to understand how the human visual system adapts to pathological changes with the following specific goals: 1. To characterize the statistical properties of the visual world altered by vision loss 2. To understand how the brain encodes and learns to interpret degraded sensory information 3. To understand how training/learning modifies visual processing in impaired vision 4. To translate a patient’s eye health information into everyday visual function The research involves structural and functional MRI, psychophysics, eye tracking, retinal imaging techniques (e.g., OCT), and computational modeling/machine learning. Please also see our recent publications: https://labs.uab.edu/kwon/publications Position 1: Functional brain imaging The ideal candidate must have a Ph.D., preferably with a specialization in functional brain imaging and/or vision research; proficiency in computer programming (MATLAB/PsychToolBox or Python), brain imaging data acquisition, MRI data analysis, and computational/statistical analysis. Experience with eye tracking, EEG or MEG would be a plus. Position 2: Computation and modeling The ideal candidate should have a Ph.D. in quantitative science or a related and relevant field; background in data mining, machine learning, network analysis, and/or statistical modeling; strong computer programing and analytical skills. The successful candidate will have access to large data sets of structural and functional eye health information, eye movements, and higher-level visual function such as reading, visual search, and driving. Both positions are available immediately. Initial appointment for both positions will be for one year, with possible renewal for additional year(s). Pay will follow the NIH payscale. For more information, contact MiYoung Kwon at kwon@uab.edu Interested applicants should submit an email of the following items (in a single PDF file): 1. Indicate whether you are applying for Position 1 or 2 2. Curriculum Vitae 3. A brief statement of research interests / future research plans (no more than 1 page) 4. Provide 3 references, including contact information for each 5. Copies of 1 or 2 selected publications All interested applicants should submit their application to kwon@uab.edu. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will end when the position is filled. The lab is conveniently located in the UAB Callahan Eye hospital clinic, which provides easy access to a variety of patient populations and theoretical/clinical expertise from ophthalmologists, optometrists, vision scientists, and optical imaging/biomedical engineers. The UAB Civitan Neuroimaging Center (https://www.uab.edu/medicine/cinl/) houses a 3T Siemens Prisma scanner equipped with an Eyelink 1000 eye tracker and a BOLDscreen 32 display from SR Research Ltd. UAB offers excellent postdoctoral training and education programs (e.g., various workshops on grant writing, presentation and teaching skills; tuition waivers for graduate level courses – also for a spouse) and fringe benefits (e.g., 403b matched up to 5% of salary). More information can be found here: https://www.uab.edu/postdocs/perspective-postdoctoral-scholars UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and familyfriendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.
Professional
Dr. Jarred Younger is seeking a full-time, PhD-level lab manager to direct activities of the Neuroinflammation, Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at UAB. The manager will be responsible for overseeing the scientific integrity of the laboratory, which includes human neuroimaging (PET and MRI), clinical trials, and immunomodulatory projects. Interested individuals can send a CV and short statement of interest to younger@uab.edu.
The Neuroinflammation, Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at UAB is hiring a full-time, PhD-level postdoctoral fellow to lead several human neuroimaging projects funded by NIH, DoD, and non-profit institutions. The principal focus will be on magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) examination of human neuroinflammation, but also includes two PET studies of neuroinflammation. The postdoctoral fellow should have experience in human neuroimaging data collection and analysis, and should be prepared to lead effective scientific teams. Interested individuals can send a CV and short statement of interest to younger@uab.edu.