Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Mass General Brigham
Summary
The Clinical and Translational Pain Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital seeks a postdoctoral fellow to lead a longitudinal, multimodal neuroimaging study of adolescents and young adults with pelvic pain. The study integrates structural MRI as well as resting-state and task-based fMRI, quantitative sensory testing, and detailed clinical and psychosocial assessment across multiple time-points. The fellow will take a central role in the day-to-day operational aspects of the study including protocol execution, data acquisition, image processing, and eventual participation in data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Job description
Position Summary
The Clinical and Translational Pain Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital seeks a postdoctoral fellow to lead a longitudinal, multimodal neuroimaging study of adolescents and young adults with pelvic pain. The study integrates structural MRI as well as resting-state and task-based fMRI, quantitative sensory testing, and detailed clinical and psychosocial assessment across multiple time-points. The fellow will take a central role in the day-to-day operational aspects of the study including protocol execution, data acquisition, image processing, and eventual participation in data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the lead scientist for the longitudinal imaging study, coordinating all aspects of neuroimaging data collection, quality control, and data management
- Oversee study timelines, participant retention across follow-up visits, and scanner scheduling in partnership with the research coordinator and McLean Imaging Center
- Supervise and train research assistants, graduate students, and undergraduate trainees involved in recruitment, assessment, and scanning
- Assist with progress reports and contribute to grant renewals and new proposals
- Work with clinical collaborators to identify and recruit participants and matched pain-free controls
- Implement and oversee a developmentally appropriate battery of clinical, psychological, and sensory assessments (quantitative sensory testing), including pain characteristics, menstrual and pubertal history, mood, anxiety, trauma exposure, sleep, and functioning
- Ensure sensitive, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate interactions with participants and families
- Oversee acquisition of high-quality structural, resting-state, and task-based fMRI data, in coordination with Dr. Szabo
- Implement strategies to minimize and monitor head motion, including real-time motion monitoring and standardized quality control
- Develop and maintain reproducible preprocessing and analysis pipelines (e.g., fMRIPrep, FreeSurfer, CONN, FSL, SPM, or equivalents) with version-controlled code
- Assist with analyses of functional connectivity, task-evoked activation, brain structure, and their relationships to clinical trajectories in collaboration with the research team
- Apply longitudinal modeling approaches (e.g., linear mixed-effects, latent growth, or related methods) that account for developmental change, repeated measures, and attrition
- Contribute to multivariate and predictive modeling aimed at identifying neural markers of pain persistence and resolution
- Lead the preparation of first-author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, and contribute to collaborative papers
- Present findings at national and international scientific meetings
- Contribute to open science practices, including preregistration, data sharing, and code sharing consistent with funder requirements
- Develop an independent research question within the broader study and pursue external funding to support it
Requirements
- PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, cognitive neuroscience, medical imaging, or a related field, completed or expected prior to the start date
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with human MRI data acquisition and analysis, including structural, resting-state, or task-based paradigms
- Proficiency in at least one major neuroimaging software package and in a programming or statistical language such as Python, R, or MATLAB
- Experience with, or working knowledge of, longitudinal data analysis
- Evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications commensurate with career stage
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently, manage a complex project, and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team
- Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate adolescent participants’ schedules
- Experience with pediatric, adolescent, or developmental neuroimaging
- Research experience in chronic pain, women's health, or a related clinical population
- Familiarity with analysis of high-motion or developmental datasets
- Experience with machine learning or predictive modeling approaches in neuroimaging
- A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, including at least one first-author research paper using MRI functional/structural analysis techniques
- Prior experience with human subjects research, IRB processes, and research involving minors
- Interest in clinical and psychosocial aspects of pain and in translational research
- Commitment to inclusive, equitable, and trauma-informed research practices
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Professional development
- Mentorship programs
- Conference funding
- Career advancement opportunities
Company overview
Mass General Brigham is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in the United States, formed through the merger of Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, this academic medical center system operates multiple hospitals, specialty facilities, and community health centers throughout New England. The organization is renowned for its world-class patient care, cutting-edge medical research, and comprehensive medical education programs. As a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham trains the next generation of healthcare professionals while advancing medical science through groundbreaking research initiatives. The system provides a full continuum of healthcare services, from primary care and preventive medicine to complex specialty treatments and emergency services. With a focus on innovation and patient-centered care, Mass General Brigham consistently ranks among the top hospital systems in the nation for clinical excellence and research output.