Postdoctoral Scholar - Neurological Surgery - Spinal Cord Injury


Position Overview


School / Campus / College: School of Medicine

Organization: Neurological Surgery

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar - Neurological Surgery - Spinal Cord Injury


Position Details


Position Description

Topics: Spinal cord injury, Closed-loop electrical spinal cord stimulation, spinal cord plasticity

Applicants are invited for a postdoctoral position at the University of Washington, School of Medicine in the area of spinal cord injury repair under the leadership of Drs. Christoph Hofstetter, Chet Moritz and Steve Perlmutter.  Dr. Hofstetter an academic neurosurgeon has assembled an outstanding multidisciplinary research team focusing on the development of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation to reduce hand spasticity following spinal cord injury. This work will include the generation of spinal cord injured rats, in vivo electrical stimulation, behavioral outcomes collection, and electrophysiology. The position is associated with grant-funded projects aiming to improve the efficacy of epidural stimulation for long-term improvement of upper extremity function in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Our current research efforts focus on establishing a realistic rodent model of transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation and the establishment of an upper extremity spasticity model. We utilize various cutting-edge techniques including rodent SCI models, transcutaneous stimulation, and assessment of function and spasticity. We have also planning to translate the findings from our rodent experiments to our patients. Our research team is highly interdisciplinary.

Successful candidates will be expected to integrate well with our research team and pioneer facilitation of rodent experiments, behavioral testing, histology, and electrical stimulation. Solid expertise with rodent animal experiments is desired but not necessary and expertise in signal processing, use of statistical models in Matlab would be beneficial.
Eligible applicants should have a Ph.D. in neuroscience, bioengineering, or computer science, or a related field. salary will be commensurate with research experience and based on the NIH guidelines for postdoctoral trainees. The University of Washington is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and training histories. This position is searching for an entry-level postdoctoral scholar, and will be given the title Post-doctoral Scholar. 

The anticipated start date is 11/1/21. This is an annually renewed (12 month service period) appointment.

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Qualifications

Eligible applicants should have a Ph.D. in neuroscience or a related field, or a foreign equivalent. 

Instructions

Please submit a CV and Cover Letter for review.

For more information, please contact chh9045@uw.edu, zink@uw.edu 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information

Under Washington State Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1, University of Washington (UW) workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.