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Post-Doctoral Associate positions are available in the Clinical Neurophysiology Research Laboratory, Dean F. Salisbury, PhD, Director, at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine & University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for EEG/MEG and MRI clinical neuroimaging.

The main research goal of the CNRL is to further understand the progressive pathology and pathophysiology of emerging psychosis. We utilize multimodal imaging including concurrent electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), structural MRI, MR diffusion spectrum imaging, fMRI, and MR pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling measures of blood perfusion. Brain activity measures span simple sensory and perceptual processes to complex higher-order cognition. Our currently NIH-funded strategy is to relate these functional measures to gray and white matter pathology and hemodynamic pathophysiology, and, in turn, pathophysiology and pathology to symptoms. Furthermore, we track these measures longitudinally following first psychotic episode, and during the clinical-high risk state. Understanding of the basic dysfunctions, in turn, will lead to earlier identification, better interventions, and improved outcome in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Thus our group has the scientific aim of understanding basic auditory perceptual system-level pathology and pathophysiology in psychosis, and the applied clinical aim of developing new biomarkers of disease presence to detect true prodromal cases prior to the emergence of psychosis. We also have several other programs of research examining pathophysiology in bipolar disorder, the effects of brain stimulation on psychosis, auditory pattern analysis, the effects of adjunctive medication on neurophysiology in psychosis, and cross-species studies of auditory processing in non-human primates and humans. We seek exceptional individuals with training in EEG, MEG, or MRI techniques to join our laboratory. We have solid funding across 3 mechanisms. Familiarity with and skills in multimodal imaging, advanced signal processing (e.g., ICA, fusion), source localization, or other analytic methods are desired. Training in psychopathology, including clinical interviews and instruments (e.g., DSM, SCID, SANS, SAPS, PANSS, etc), is preferable, but not an absolute requirement. The postdoctoral position appointments are currently available, and are for one year with a potential for renewal pending funding and satisfactory performance. If interested, please contact Prof.Salisbury via e-mail (attach your CV): salisburyd@upmc.edu