Postdoctoral Associate

About the Role

The Center for Brain Recovery (CBR) at Boston University is a research center focused on understanding language recovery following stroke and developing treatments for stroke survivors. The CBR is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Postdoctoral Researcher to join their dynamic team. This role offers an opportunity to advance research in neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, and precision therapeutics for aphasia recovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Neural Network Engagement & Language Recovery Research
• Conduct and analyze fMRI studies investigating how different brain networks support language processing in persons with aphasia.
• Evaluate how intensive language therapy modulates neural engagement across brain networks.
• Neuroimaging-Based Prognostication & Connectivity Mapping
• Develop and refine computational pipelines for analyzing directional temporal-frontal connectivity using advanced neuroimaging data (MRI, DTI, rsfMRI).
• Build and validate lesion-informed cortical-dynamics simulations to compute patient-specific effective connectivity.
• Create personalized "digital twins" of patient brains to identify recruitable language function and viable neuroprosthesis targets.
• Computational Modeling & Machine Learning
• Develop machine learning models that predict individual recovery prognosis and treatment response from multimodal neuroimaging and behavioral data.
• Apply interpretable AI methods to identify predictive neural biomarkers.
• Validate prognostic algorithms on independent cohorts and translate findings into clinical candidacy assessments.
• Clinical Research & Data Management
• Coordinate recruitment, screening, and enrollment of stroke survivors with aphasia.
• Oversee fMRI data collection and quality assurance.
• Manage longitudinal study databases and ensure compliance with ethical research standards.
• Contribute to clinical characterization of participants and behavioral assessments.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, neuroimaging, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, data science, psychology, or related field.
• Strong experience with fMRI data acquisition and analysis.
• Proficiency in neuroimaging analysis software (FSL, SPM, AFNI) and programming languages (Python, MATLAB, or R).
• Experience with structural connectivity analysis and/or computational modeling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team.
• Commitment to ethical research practices and patient-centered care.

Highly Desired

• Experience with machine learning or deep learning applications in neuroimaging.
• Prior involvement in clinical trials or clinical research with stroke or aphasia populations.
• Experience with network neuroscience or connectivity analyses.
• Familiarity with brain-computer interface, neuromodulation research or neurorehabilitation.

This position is contingent upon external grant funding and is subject to annual review.