We are seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual preferably with an engineering, neuroscience or related background to conduct mentored rehabilitation-related non-invasive brain imaging research at the NIH. The specific research project(s) would involve the collection of Electroencephalography (EEG) and/or Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) data during different motor tasks in infants or older children and adults with developmental brain injuries and healthy volunteers. Data are collected simultaneously with other existing state-of-the-science instrumentation in our laboratory such as 3D motion capture or wireless surface EMG. Our laboratory is among the first to utilize non-invasive brain imaging to study brain activation and development in children with cerebral palsy and how this relates to their motor abilities.

The ideal postdoctoral candidate has recently completed a PhD and has some level of expertise in collecting and processing EEG and/or NIRS data or has relevant technical expertise that would enable them to learn these skills in a relatively short period of time. A strong research interest in motor development and motor control are also highly desirable. The postdoctoral fellow would be working together with a team of scientists, engineers and clinicians in the laboratory and would receive mentorship, training and assistance in collecting and processing these data using novel methods. They would participate in data interpretation and dissemination both as a lead author on a specific aspect of the project (this will be determined individually prior to study onset) and as a scientific collaborator on the research team.

Postdoctoral training at the NIH is an important part of the NIH mission and is a unique experience with the opportunity to take advantage of many research related courses and attend talks by some of the best scientists in the world who either work at or are visiting the NIH. This individual would report directly to Dr. Diane Damiano, a tenured Senior Investigator and Chief of the Section in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center, and supervised by her and Dr. Julia Kline, a Staff Scientist in the Section. This position is guaranteed for one year with the potential of lasting up to three years and is available starting in January 2022. For further information or to apply, please contact Dr. Damiano at damianod@cc.nih.gov.