Postdoctoral Scholar, Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine

Position Description

Area: Paediatric Brain Neuroimaging Research

Duration: 1 year (potentially renewable)

Start Date: Early 2022 or negotiable

Salary: $50,000 per annum (plus benefits)

The Departments of Paediatrics in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Paediatric Brain Neuroimaging Research. 

Dr. Adam Kirton is a Professor of Pediatrics, Radiology, and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. Dr. Helen Carlson is a Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. We have extensive experience in researching brain neuroplasticity in children with perinatal stroke through multimodal neuroimaging. 

The postdoctoral scholar will work with Drs. Kirton and Carlson to study both typically developing children and those with perinatal stroke and examine links between brain development, motor function and cognition as part of a project grant funded by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, medical sciences, or other relevant discipline, and experience with MR image processing, analysis, statistics and coding. 

Responsibilities:

• Co-develop and refine research questions and methods within the project parameters
• Actively seek additional, external funding opportunities at local, provincial and national levels
• Actively contribute to the development of peer-reviewed publications related to the studies undertaken as part of the PDS appointment
• Perform MR image processing and statistical analysis
• Develop a graphical user interface for a clinical dashboard application
• Contribute to broader team efforts aligned with candidate expertise including opportunities to participate in related studies and the teaching and mentorship of junior learners

Qualifications:

• PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, medical sciences, or other relevant discipline
• Experience in MR imaging and analysis techniques in one or more of structural morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, resting state functional connectivity, or task-based functional imaging
• Coding experience in Python, Matlab or related applications
• Experience with experimental design and statistical analysis (R, SPSS or Jamovi)
• High level of effective organizational, time management and personal initiative skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, especially in scientific wri
• Strong track record of scholarly activities including publication of research findings in reputable peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations
• Experience in applying for external grants and awards

Application Materials:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of interest (maximum two pages)
• List of two references (reference letters will be required for final decisions)
• Two writing samples (published or unpublished) that best exemplify your scholarly work, along with an explanation of your role in each sample

Application materials and questions can be sent to [email protected]. The PDS will be affiliated with the University of Calgary, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI). ACHRI brings together over 180 inter-disciplinary scientists to find new ways of understanding and treating child behavioural, emotional, cognitive, and physical health.  

Additional information:
The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary as well as eligibility criteria, visit our Postdocs website.  

About the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program
Stroke and cerebrovascular diseases are an increasingly recognized cause of brain injury in newborns and children. Most suffer adverse neurological outcomes that affect many aspects of child and family quality of life and last for decades. The Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program (CPSP) provides children with cerebrovascular disease and their families with state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment, and support while providing the opportunity to participate in leading clinical research initiatives. Since its establishment at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in 2007, the CPSP has enrolled >500 children locally and established multiple new clinical and research programs. Our ultimate goal is to improve outcomes from stroke for children and their families.
www.perinatalstroke.ca  www.carlsonimaging.ca

Additional Information

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information about the Cumming School of Medicine visit Careers in the Cumming School of Medicine.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their professional success while they are here.