"Assistant Professor of Psychiatry"

Job Details

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to lead and oversee various components of our research program focused on substance use disorders (including alcohol) and/or other behavioral/psychiatric disorders. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and implementing neuroimaging studies, developing, and managing imaging pipelines, and supervising a team of researchers and technicians in database management. This role requires a strong background in neuroimaging methodologies, clinical human research, substance use disorders, and other behavioral/psychiatric populations as well as a proven track record of publications and presentations at national and international conferences. In addition, the ideal candidate will have prior experience working with neuromodulation techniques, in particular, focused ultrasound neuromodulation. In addition, the ideal candidate will have prior experience working with clinical trials investigating new and/or off-label pharmacological interventions for substance use disorders and/or other behavioral/psychiatric disorders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership and Oversight: Lead and direct the neuroimaging research program focused on substance use disorders and/or other behavioral/psychiatric disorders. Manage and oversee the day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, scientific rigor, and compliance with ethical standards. Stay current with advances in neuroimaging and addiction neuroscience and behavioral medicine, integrating new methodologies and technologies into the research agenda.
• Research Design and Implementation: Design and oversee the implementation of neuroimaging protocols, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and adherence to regulatory guidelines. Utilize electrophysiological, neuromodulation, cognitive batteries, and subjective questionnaires to assess and improve monitoring, assessment, and treatment for substance use disorder and other co-occurring or independent behavioral/psychiatric disorders. Independently and collaboratively carry out applied research projects aimed at improving patient outcomes.
• Pipeline Development and Management: Create, manage, and implement neuroimaging pipelines to facilitate the analysis and replication of studies. Ensure pipelines are efficient, scalable, and compatible with large-scale datasets. Oversee data processing, quality control, and management of neuroimaging databases.
• Mentorship and Supervision: Supervise and mentor researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students, providing guidance on MR protocols, scan acquisition, and neuroimaging analysis. Train staff in neuroimaging techniques, data management, and relevant software tools.
• Grant Writing and Funding Acquisition: Contribute to and lead grant writing efforts, providing neuroimaging expertise to secure external funding. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on multi-site grants and large-scale clinical trials.
• Knowledge Translation and Dissemination: Present research findings at national and international conferences. Publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, demonstrating a strong track record of scientific contributions. Foster collaborations with academic, industry, and clinical partners.

The University of Virginia Medical Center is located on the main university grounds of the University of Virginia. The University of Virginia is annually ranked as one of the premier public institutions in the United States and is located in Charlottesville, a picturesque small but cosmopolitan city that offers a blend of historic charm, natural beauty, and cultural vibrancy. UVA assists faculty spouses and partners seeking employment in the Charlottesville area. To learn more about these services, please visit http://provost.virginia.edu/dual-career. For more information about UVA and the surrounding area, please visit http://uvacharge.virginia.edu/guide.html.

Qualifications

PhD in neuroscience, neuroimaging, psychology, biomedical engineering, or a related field. Extensive experience in neuroimaging research, including MRI acquisition, processing, and analysis. Expertise in substance use disorder research and/or addiction neuroscience. Strong publication record with evidence of presentations at national and international conferences. Proficiency in neuroimaging tools (e.g., FSL, FreeSurfer, MRtrix3, SPM, AFNI) and programming languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python, R). Experience with neuromodulation techniques (e.g., focused ultrasound) and electrophysiology is highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor a multidisciplinary research team. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research team.

Preferred Skills and Experience: Experience in clinical trials involving neuroimaging and/or neuromodulation. Experience in clinical trials involving individuals with substance use disorder and other behavioral/psychiatric disorders. Familiarity with BIDS format, large-scale data management, and reproducible pipelines. Knowledge of Bayesian and Frequentist statistical approaches for neuroimaging data analysis. Experience with database management and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, or SAS).

Application Instructions

Please apply online at http://apply.interfolio.com/165357. Interested applicants should submit: A cover letter outlining relevant experience and research interests. A CV including a full list of publications and presentations. For additional information about the position, please contact Greg Benham at CGB2Q@uvahealth.org.

Organization

In 1819, the University of Virginia established a new model for intellectual exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration in higher education. Two hundred years later, as a major research institution, we continue to challenge conventions, lead with ingenuity and advance knowledge for the common good. What began as an innovative idea has become one of the nation’s leading public research universities, with over 21,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UVA also has over 3,000 full-time faculty offering more than 400 degrees. Each of the University’s eleven schools has its own distinctive mission, working together to garner consistently high rankings—including #2 Best Value Public College (Princeton Review, 2016), #3 Public University in the Nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2016), and #3 Best Value Among Public Colleges (Kiplinger’s, 2016). As we invest in and strengthen our research capabilities, UVA seeks new faculty ready to uncover new insights, rewrite old rules and collaborate on intellectual discoveries. RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS THAT CROSS DISCIPLINES As an R1 institution, the University’s research centers, consortia and laboratories are on the leading edge of discovery and technology, offering collaborative spaces for students and faculty to solve global problems. Our professors are recognized members of major national scholarly and professional organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Our faculty’s engagement in interdisciplinary research is being facilitated by new research institutes specializing in everything from big data to brain functioning, and by cluster hires across schools. NATIONALLY RANKED HEALTH SYSTEM UVA is also home to a nationally renowned academic medical center and the UVA Health System, which serves a three-part mission to treat patients, conduct translational research and train medical practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines. Established as the nation’s 10th medical school in 1825, the institution has since grown to include a 612-bed hospital and a Level I trauma center, nationally recognized cancer and heart centers, a Children’s Hospital, and primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia. The UVA Medical Center is consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report magazine and has been named among the top 25 percent in seven specialties. INSPIRE STUDENTS, INSPIRE TEACHING The vast majority of UVA students come from the top 10% of their high school class, as well as from all 50 states, over 142 countries and a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite their diversity, all UVA students share a love of learning and a drive to achieve. One of the reasons students choose Virginia is our unique residential culture. At UVA, the community of students, faculty and staff personifies the Jeffersonian idea that living and learning are connected. The Academical Village was constructed to support a unique residential experience, with faculty living in the Pavilions, students occupying Lawn rooms and the world-famous Rotunda at its heart. The University’s residential culture continues to support this experience today—strengthened by students, faculty and staff rich in backgrounds, ideas and perspectives. Our unique culture is also paying dividends in innovation: UVA’s faculty have generated more than 130 patents since 2010. Perhaps most importantly, faculty come to UVA knowing that instruction is as important as research, and they pride themselves on their many teaching awards. Our best professors look for ways to encourage, mentor and develop tomorrow’s leaders inside and outside the classroom. LIFE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE Living in Charlottesville you’ll find sophisticated restaurants, world-renowned wineries and breweries, cosmopolitan arts and music, friendly urban and suburban neighborhoods and a Piedmont landscape that has lured adventurous souls for centuries. No wonder the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research named Charlottesville the “happiest city in America” in 2014. In addition to UVA and its health system, several major employers have facilities in Charlottesville, including State Farm, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Department of Defense, GE and others. Charlottesville is also becoming a center for innovative start-up businesses. The University also actively helps spouses and partners of faculty members build their networks and pursue employment opportunities with a wide variety of area employers. The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.