DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Palo Alto
WRIISC Special Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
in Advanced
Neuroimaging
(VAPA-WRIISC-SFP)
The Office of Academic
Affiliations, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is now accepting
applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program in
advanced neuroimaging with an emphasis on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive impairment and chronic pain. The Fellowship
can begin between January 1st and August 31st, 2017. This is a joint fellowship
between VA Palo Alto War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) and the
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. The VAPA-WRIISC-SFP
site is linked to the two other WRIISC fellowship sites (Washington, DC, East
Orange, NJ) as well as the VA Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical
Center (MIRECC) fellowship program (based at Palo Alto) for didactic, academic,
and research efforts. The Palo Alto WRIISC specializes in integrating
anatomical/functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) to improve the diagnostic/prognostic value of neuroimaging in
the clinical setting. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity to (a) receive
training in Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (fMRI), Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and amyloid imaging from a team
of experienced neuroimagers and (b) relate neuroimaging findings to clinical
cases in consensus conferences with our team of neurologists, nurse practitioners,
psychiatrists & psychologists. We are interested in the relationship
between TBI/PTSD and a potentially increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and
have recently received funding to explore this question using amyloid PET
imaging. Our team of investigators is also part of the Alzheimer’s Disease
Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). There are additional opportunities to explore
projects in psychology and dementia with WRIISC, MIRECC, and Stanford faculty. In
collaboration with their mentors, fellows will develop and conduct a research
project, publish and present findings, participate in grant writing, and
utilize the latest technologies for research (5 MRI scanners including a brand
new PET-MR unit).
Applicants must be US
citizens. The
ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience, computer science,
psychology, or a related discipline. Prior experience in neuroimaging is
essential. Experience with Linux, MATLAB, SPM8/12, FreeSurfer v5.3.0 & FSL v5.0
is highly desirable and programming skills would be a big plus.
A. To be eligible to
apply for the WRIISC Fellowship Program you must hold a PhD in one of the above
described disciplines and be able to provide
evidence of U.S. citizenship.
B. Applications must be received by December 1st,
2016. Applicants must submit: a) a
letter confirming they can fulfill the eligibility requirements; b) a personal
statement describing their interest in the Fellowship; c) 3 letters of
recommendation; and d) a current curriculum vitae. These materials can
be submitted directly to the PhD Fellowship
Program Director: Ansgar Furst, PhD at [log in to unmask].
C. If the applicant is identified as the
candidate of choice for this site, they will be required to produce all
documents listed in the above section A and the following additional documents:
- Transcripts from
all educational institutions
- VA Form 10-2850d, “Application
for Health Professions Trainees.”
