Research Associate II - Goldberg Laboratory

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A Brief Overview
This role is an advanced independent researcher that plans, coordinates and executes complex research projects.

Works with the Principal Investigator. Participates in and assists in the planning and coordination of research projects, is independent and responsible for a specific aspect of the one or more research projects. Assists in determining the direction of the project. Prepares and writes manuscripts and research proposals, performs data management and quantitative analyses, collaborates in development of innovative research and educational programs, and serves as an educational resource for the laboratory and the Institution.

About the Laboratory

A Research Associate position is available in the laboratory of Ethan M. Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D., in the Division of Neurology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the new Center for Brain Research in Development, Genetics, and Engineering (BRIDGE).

The lab studies mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders toward development of novel therapies using a range of techniques, including: human and mouse genetics; neurons and brain organoids generated from induced pluripotent stem cells from human patients with neurodevelopmental disorders; electrophysiology including voltage clamp of ionic currents in heterologous systems and acute brain slice in mouse; advanced microscopy including two-photon calcium imaging in vivo; and animal behavior in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders using machine learning based analysis of video.

The applicant will work with the Principal Investigator and research laboratory to lead a project(s), conduct experiments, analyze data for lab- and Center-wide collaborative projects, generate data for manuscripts and grant applications, train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, develop data acquisition and analysis pipelines, develop and maintain data storage systems. The ideal candidate will be experienced, enthusiastic, self-driven, and committed to learning and working as part of a team. Specific prior experience with signal processing, data analysis, statistics, computational modeling, coding, and/or machine learning, is required. She or he will have excellent organizational and communication skills and the ability to multi-task. This is an opportunity to work in a fast-paced high-level research environment translating neuroscience discovery into treatment and cure for brain disorders of childhood.

Technical Skills

• Strong programming skills in Python, MATLAB, and/or R, including development of data analysis pipelines, reproducible code, and integration of diverse data sources. Familiarity with computational libraries and frameworks such as NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, PyTorch, and TensorFlow.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and optimize data analysis pipelines for processing, organizing, integrating, and analyzing large-scale datasets, and to translate analytical results into scientific publications and other research outputs. Experience with data quality control, validation and visualization tools, including automated quality control, artifact detection, data provenance, and development of standardized preprocessing workflows for large experimental datasets.
• Background in machine learning. The lab makes extensive use of video-based behavioral/movement analysis including markerless pose estimation including tools such as DeepLabCut or SLEAP and automated behavioral classification tools such as MoSeq.
• Expertise in signal processing methods for extracting spectro-temporal features from neural signals, including EEG, LFP, and/or ECoG data. Familiarity with functional imaging analysis, including two-photon calcium imaging and widefield imaging. Prior use of tools such as Suite2p and CaImAn is a plus.
• Experience in advanced statistical techniques, such as hierarchical and mixed-effects models, non-parametric statistical methods, cluster-based permutation testing, and multiple-comparison corrections. Familiarity with dimensionality reduction and high-dimensional data analysis techniques, including PCA, t-SNE, and UMAP.
• Hands-on experience with Git/GitHub, high-performance computing (HPC) and cluster environments, and management and processing of large-scale and high-dimensional datasets.

What you will do

• Assists faculty in the conduct of research of significant value in the basic and/or translational science area
• Functions with a high level of independence in the development and execution of research projects
• Plans, conducts, and manages research projects within the federal, institutional regulations and policies
• Collaborates with researchers, external agencies and institutions to develop cooperative research initiatives
• Trains technical staff, students, fellows, and physicians in lab procedures
• Reviews manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
• Assist in composing/developing applications for grants, contracts, and research funding proposals.
• Responsible for appropriate use of research funds
• May supervise students or other research staff as assigned.

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Masters Degree in Bioengineering, Neuroscience, or an interdisciplinary field (computer science, biology) Preferred
• Doctorate in Bioengineering, Neuroscience, or an interdisciplinary field (computer science, biology) Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• At least eight (8) years of directly relevant post grad scientific lab experience Required
• At least ten (10) years of directly relevant post grad scientific lab experience Preferred
• Successful completion of a Post Doc Fellowship Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Expert knowledge in the use of a wide variety of lab techniques, research equipment and research related software
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent critical thinking / problem-solving skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Solid leadership skills

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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At CHOP, we are committed to fair and transparent pay practices. Factors such as skills and experience could result in an offer above the salary range noted in this job posting. Click here for more information regarding CHOP's Compensation and Benefits.