The Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine（PONS）at the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence（ISTBI）, Fudan University, Shanghai and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany Director: Professor Gunter Schumann is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Precision Medicine

PONS is a newly established centre at ISTBI that thrives to be a worldwide leader in population neuroscience, an emerging discipline investigating the complexity and heterogeneity of behaviour and mental illness on a population level by identifying environmental and genomic factors that shape the structure and function of the human brain. PONS works in close partnership with the Charite（https://charite.de）, one of Europe's largest university hospitals and research institutions, affiliated with Humboldt University and Free University Berlin, which is ranked fifth best hospital in the world and best in Europe（Newsweek 2019/2020）. PONS integrates neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience,（epi）genomics and epidemiological research with novel tools for environmental assessments, such as ecological momentary assessments using smart phone applications, social media analyses, and satellite-based remote sensing acquisitions. It aims at the identification of markers and brain mechanisms of risk and resilience for mental illness in different environmental contexts, such as pandemics, pollution, climate change, migration or urbanicity. This knowledge will be applied to develop neurobehavioural interventions targeted at causal brain mechanisms for prevention and early intervention of disease on a public health-relevant scale.

The Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence（ISTBI）, Fudan University, Shanghai is the first scientific research and innovation institution of brain science, artificial intelligence and brain-like research in China. At present, the research take the lead in brain and brain intelligent transformation and application of basic research of Shanghai municipal science and technology major projects, for the Shanghai center for brain and brain research network unit, is to undertake a national and Shanghai brain and brain related to major research plan of the strategy research and task organization, committed to build a brain and brain intelligence class the forefront of the international first-class research center.

Description of field of application:

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow of the highest quality for a world-leading research programme to develop the framework of a novel psychiatric taxonomy based on quantifiable neurobehavioural measures. This will be achieved by relating functional and structural neuroimaging measures as well as（epi-）genomic and environmental characterisations to behavioural symptom groups in both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Being defined by shared neural mechanisms, these symptom groups will provide markers for stratification and prediction of mental illness. The work will involve an exceptional understanding of the neural correlates of behaviour, and extensive experience in the analysis of neuroimaging data using advanced statistics. There is an opportunity to work during part of the project at the German site of the PONS centre at the Charite in Berlin.

Areas of responsibility:

• To contribute to the development of a framework for a novel psychiatric taxonomy based on quantifiable neurobehavioural measures.

• To relate functional and structural neuroimaging measures as well as（epi-）genomic and environmental characterisations to behavioural symptom groups in both cross-sectional and longitudinal data

• The publication, report generation and dissemination of data arising from this project

• Attend and present at academic meetings and contribute to the visibility of the project and its aims.

• Assist with the supervision of PhD and MSc candidates and with the general running of the group

• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be relevant to the role outline

Your Profile:

• PhD in psychology, neuroscience, sociology, computer science or a related discipline - awarded, or thesis submitted

• Experience in imaging genetics and behavioural research

• Experience in multimodal analyses of behavioural assessments, neuroimaging and –omics data using advanced statistics

• Evidence of the ability to publish in high-impact scientific journal.

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Professional and enthusiastic

Starting Date:

01.06.2021

Length of employment:

24 months

Working time（hrs./week）:

40 hrs/week

Application:

Applicants should send the application materials to gongyanting9458@163.com and the subject of the email should indicate the position + name + gaoxiaojob. Application information includes:

(1）Cover letter, including research plan

(2）CV

(3）Certificates, Attestations

Contact information:

For questions, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Gunter Schumann, email: gunter.schumann1961@gmail.com & gongyanting9458@163.com