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1 yearFixed-term (CDD)Renewable (4 years)
Postdoctoral Researcher Position
Data Science in Neuroscience
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedinThe EPFL Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics is seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to contribute to groundbreaking data-driven research in neuroscience. The successful candidate will play a central role in advancing our understanding of human behavior, stress, and motivation by applying advanced analytical techniques to rich and multidimensional datasets. These include data from cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) experiments, physiological assessments (e.g., SNS, hormonal markers, and neurometabolism), behavioral metrics, and neuroimaging. This position is ideal for a data scientist eager to harness these diverse datasets to drive innovative insights and make significant contributions to ongoing and future projects in the lab.
Project Overview
The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team working on innovative projects that leverage VR scenarios and behavioral paradigms to study human stress, anxiety, and motivated behavior. The work involves analyzing diverse datasets, including behavioral responses, autonomic nervous system (SNS) and hormonal data, blood biomarkers, metabolic data, and fMRI outputs. This position provides an exceptional opportunity to apply and further develop expertise in advanced statistical and computational methods to uncover the neural and physiological mechanisms driving human behavior. The position will benefit from EPFL’s strong computational expertise and collaborative opportunities, with potential for synergy with leading data science groups on campus.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyze large, multidimensional datasets, integrating behavioral, physiological, and imaging data (e.g., SNS, hormonal markers, metabolic profiles).
- Develop and apply data science tools and methodologies, including machine learning and advanced statistical modeling, to derive insights from complex datasets.
- Collaborate on the design of VR-based and other behavioral testing paradigms, as well as the analysis of the resulting data, to investigate stress, anxiety, and motivation.
- Investigate relationships between stress physiology, motivated behavior, metabolic markers and neural activity, identifying key mechanisms and biomarkers.
- Prepare high-quality manuscripts and present findings at international conferences.
- Supervise and mentor students and contribute to the collaborative lab environment.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in a Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field with a strong focus on data analysis
- Demonstrated expertise in analyzing complex, multidimensional datasets, including physiological signals, behavioral metrics, and imaging data.
- Strong programming skills in relevant languages (e.g., Python, R) and proficiency with statistical and machine learning frameworks.
- Experience in applying data science methods to areas such as stress physiology, motivated behavior, neuroimaging, or metabolic analyses is an asset.
- A track record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Application Process
Candidates should submit a SINGLE PDF containing:
- A cover letter detailing your research background, technical skills, and fit for the position.
- A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including a full list of publications.
- Contact information for three professional references.
Applications should be emailed to Prof. Carmen Sandi (carmen.sandi@epfl.ch). Review of applications will begin on January 6th 2025 and continue until the position is filled.
The position is available immediately, initially for 1 year with potential for renewal for subsequent 4 years.
Location: EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
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1 yearFixed-term (CDD)renewable
Postdoctoral Researcher Position
Investigating Human Behavior and Stress Responsiveness Using Virtual Reality (VR) and Multidimensional Assessments
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedinThe EPFL Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics is seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join our team in a cutting-edge project focused on understanding human behavior and stress responsiveness through advanced Virtual Reality (VR) environments and comprehensive behavioral and physiological assessments. The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and conducted in the Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, led by Prof. Carmen Sandi.
Project Overview
This project aims to unravel the complexities of human behavior and stress responses by leveraging VR technology to simulate stress-inducing scenarios and monitor participants’ behavioral and physiological reactions in real-time. The selected candidate will work on the integration of VR systems with various physiological monitoring tools, including sensors tracking heart rate, skin conductance, and other stress-related biomarkers, as well as behavioral data from participant movements within the VR environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement VR-based experimental protocols to study human stress and behavior.
- Operate and program VR environments tailored to the specific needs of the research project.
- Collect, process, and analyze multidimensional data from physiological systems and behavioral sensors.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including engineers, neuroscientists, and data scientists, to ensure the robustness and validity of the research methodologies.
- Prepare manuscripts for publication in high-impact scientific journals and present findings at national and international conferences.
- Mentor students and contribute to the broader research community.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, Psychology, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in human subjects research, particularly using VR approaches.
- Strong technical skills in programming VR environments (e.g., Unity) and managing complex experimental setups.
- Experience in analyzing multidimensional data, including physiological signals (e.g., EEG, ECG, GSR) and behavioral data from motion tracking systems.
- Proven track record of published research in peer-reviewed journals.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with wearable technology and real-time data processing.
- Familiarity with advanced statistical methods and machine learning techniques for analyzing large datasets.
- Prior experience in stress research or related areas of psychophysiology.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit the following documents (all of them as a single pdf):
- Experience with wearable technology and real-time data processing.
- Familiarity with advanced statistical methods and machine learning techniques for analyzing large datasets.
- Prior experience in stress research or related areas of psychophysiology.
Interested candidates should send a SINGLE pdf including: CV, a brief research statement and the contact details of 3 reference persons to: Prof. Carmen Sandi (carmen.sandi@epfl.ch).
The position is available immediately, for 1 year, renewable. Applications will be reviewed from October 1st 2024, on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Location: EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland