The lab will be opening in January 2018 and is hiring a full time research assistant and a postdoctoral fellow, and is planning to recruit up to two graduate students in the upcoming application round. Information about each open position can be found below. More about the lab’s research mission and publications can be found using the links above.
Research Assistant
The Computational Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychiatry Lab (Solway Lab) is hiring a research assistant to begin January 2018. A strong preference will be given to candidates that can start in January, however, exceptions will be considered for extremely well qualified candidates that aren’t graduating until Spring/Summer 2018, so please do apply. This position requires:
- A strong programming background.
- Some familiarity with or the ability to quickly learn Python, JavaScript, and interacting with Amazon’s Mechanical Turk.
- A strong interest in learning more about experimental and computational approaches to cognitive neuroscience and psychiatry.
There are also several additional characteristics that are preferred, but are by no means required – we’re in an interdisciplinary field, and no one knows everything. However, you should have a strong interest in filling in gaps in your knowledge as the need arises.
- Some experience with R, LaTeX, and version control.
- Some experience with FSL or another neuroimaging analysis package.
- Some exposure to experimental and/or mathematical/computational approaches to psychology/cognitive neuroscience/psychiatry.
The ideal candidate is someone with some exposure to programming and/or computer science and who is interested in learning more about computational approaches to psychology/cognitive neuroscience/psychiatry before applying to graduate school. Primary responsibilities include programming computer-based experiments and recruiting and running participants. Administrative tasks will include helping prepare grant applications and publications for submission, as well as performing whatever other activities are necessary to keep the lab running smoothly. You will also have the opportunity to be more directly involved in a research project and data analysis, and learn how to ask and answer questions in our field.
To apply, e-mail your CV, a cover letter, and a list of references to solwaylab[at]gmail.com. Be sure these documents address how your experience and skill set meet the above requirements. In particular, describe any programming classes you have taken and what programming experience you have outside of class. Also describe your long term goals and how you think this position will help you achieve them.
Graduate Student
The Computational Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychiatry Lab (Solway Lab) is planning to recruit up to two Ph.D. students to start in the Fall 2018 term (which means you should apply in 2017, i.e. now). Students may enter through either the Department of Psychology or the Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. The work you do and your status in the lab will not be affected by which track you choose, but these programs have different training and teaching requirements outside of the lab, so consider your choice carefully. If you are not sure which track to pursue, contact Dr. Solway (solwaylab[at]gmail.com). Information about the lab’s research mission and publications can be found using the links above. Because the lab works in an interdisciplinary field, no candidate will have all of the skills necessary to complete the work we do upon joining the lab. The goal of graduate school is to learn how to do research and fill in these gaps. Nevertheless, some background is obviously necessary in order to succeed. Successful candidates will have experience with some subset of the following:
- Basic computer science/engineering math: calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, frequentist and Bayesian statistics, time-frequency analysis, basic machine learning techniques.
- Programming experiments and performing data analysis with R, Python, Matlab, and/or another programming language. Version control, e.g. with Subversion, Git, or similar.
- An understanding of modern cognitive/experimental and/or mathematical/computational approaches to psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Some exposure to ideas and methods in clinical psychology and psychiatry.
- Analyzing fMRI and/or EEG data with FSL, SPM, AFNI, EEGLAB, and/or another analysis package.
Many candidates will have more experience with the first two bullet points and much less with the second two, or vice versa, although some are expected to have a more heterogeneous background. The list above is meant to be fairly general and should not discourage you from applying, but you should be highly motivated to fill in any gaps in knowledge during your time here. Candidates are expected to come from computer science, psychology, neuroscience, statistics, or other scientific and engineering disciplines. However, your exact undergraduate concentration/major doesn’t matter contingent on having had exposure to the above.
To apply, follow the instructions for the respective program, either through the Department of Psychology or the Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. Be sure that your research statement addresses how your research interests, experience, and skill set are aligned with the lab’s research mission, as well as what your long term goals are and how you think being a graduate student in the respective program will help you achieve them. As is the usual disclaimer with graduate recruitment, it should be noted that admission decisions are made by the admissions committee for the respective program and not individual labs, and that while you are encouraged to express interest in particular labs in your application, you are applying to a program and not a lab.
Postdoctoral Fellow
The Computational Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychiatry Lab (Solway Lab) is hiring a postdoctoral fellow to receive training and work on projects looking at how information processing differences in anxiety disorders, OCD, and depression influence decision making and episodic memory. The start date is flexible and ranges from January 2018 to as late as Fall 2018. Successful candidates will at minimum:
- Have received a Ph.D. prior to the start date, completing their defense and all other degree requirements.
- Have worked on problems in psychology, neuroscience, and/or psychiatry during their Ph.D. and have published or are on their way to publishing or submitting journal papers describing their work.
The lab works in an interdisciplinary field. Successful candidates will further have had experience with some mixture of the following:
- Basic computer science/engineering math: calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, frequentist and Bayesian statistics, time-frequency analysis, basic machine learning techniques.
- Programming experiments and performing data analysis with R, Python, Matlab, and/or another programming language. Version control, e.g. with Subversion, Git, or similar.
- An understanding of modern cognitive/experimental and/or mathematical/computational approaches to psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry.
- Analyzing fMRI and/or EEG data with FSL, SPM, AFNI, EEGLAB, and/or another analysis package.
The list above is meant to be fairly general and should not discourage you from applying. Even at the postdoctoral level, not everyone will have experience with everything listed here. However, you should be highly motivated to quickly fill in any gaps in knowledge. Candidates are expected to come from psychology, neuroscience, computer science, statistics, or other scientific disciplines where they have had a chance to work on problems in psychology, neuroscience, and/or psychiatry. The exact Ph.D. department/major doesn’t matter contingent on meeting the above requirements.
To apply, e-mail your CV, a cover letter, any pre-prints (to be handled in confidence), and a list of references to solwaylab[at]gmail.com. Be sure these documents address how your experience and skill set meet the above requirements. Also describe your long term goals and how you think a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab will help you achieve them.
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. UMD is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected status in all aspects of employment. UMD is actively engaged in recruiting, hiring, and promoting underrepresented communities; minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.