Associate Professor - Computational Neuroscience and Engineering
The College of Engineering and Computer Science of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in collaboration with the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (SNBI), the FAU Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-Health) and the Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE) is pleased to announce an opening for a faculty position at the Associate Professor level. This position is centered on computational neuroscience and engineering with emphasis on Biomolecular Networks Supporting Brain Function and Health. Priority will be given to individuals with demonstrated capacity to develop as well as use novel strategies to assess multivariate relationships at molecular, cellular and/or network levels. We are specifically interested in the following areas:
- Omics level computational assessments of biomolecules and cells in relation to brain function and disease
- Computational modeling and simulation of health-relevant biomolecular structure, dynamics and networks
- Computational modeling of health relevant signals that report biomolecular activity in model systems vivo
Successful candidates will play a critical role in advancing our research and educational goals, making significant contributions to our neuroscience and engineering research community at the Jupiter and Boca Raton Campuses, with collaborations possibly on other FAU campuses. This position offers an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team at the forefront in integrating engineering and computational sciences with neuroscience research.
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science and SNBI are recognized for their extensive research in the broad areas of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. The two have recently established a cluster in computational neuroscience and engineering with focus on Dynamical Neuroscience (neural mechanisms of adaptive learning and performance) and neurodynamics at macroscopic time scales (neural circuit mechanism underlying higher cognitive functions such as multitasking, rule-based reasoning and Bayesian inference). In addition to the above areas, there is extensive expertise available in neuroengineering and prosthetics, optics and biophotonics applications in neuroscience, tissue engineering, computational protein and nucleic acid modeling and biomechanics, and biomedical devices for disease detection and monitoring. Our expertise extends to micro- and nanobiotechnology and biosensing, evolutionary genomics, and the development of wearable devices and sensing technologies for cognitive disorders. Research areas of distinction also include connected autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cryptography, data science and big data analytics, transportation and environmental engineering, intelligent energy technologies, multidomain autonomy and communications, and the development of bioinspired devices for coastal resilience.
The FAU Jupiter Campus serves as a hub for premier academic and research institutions, including the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, the Wilkes Honors College, more than twenty FAU neuroscience and life science research laboratories from the Colleges of Science and Medicine. It also houses the Jupiter Branch of the FAU High School. Collaborating with esteemed partners such as the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and UF- Scripps Institute, this campus represents a one of a kind life sciences ecosystem. This unique environment is dedicated to advancing brain science and health-focused research, supporting interdisciplinary growth especially in areas that integrate functional neuroscience with computational modeling. Graduate programming in neuroscience, biological science, psychology and engineering provides critical talent key to research efforts and collaborations.
At the rank of Associate Professor, the successful candidate will not only sustain a robust research and teaching portfolio, both independently and in collaboration, but will also work closely with the Executive Director of the SNBI to develop the Program in Computational Brain Science and Health, established in collaboration with the Palm Health Foundation whose $1M gift has supported the generation computational laboratories at the SNBI and has fostered the development of the Brain Coast Alliance. In this key role, the appointee will be engaged in setting strategic directions, fostering a culture of innovation, and facilitating the integration of FAU engineering and computer science programs with our graduate neuroscience offerings, with the goal of promoting impactful educational experiences and research collaborations. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a significant record of research funding and scholarly contributions, substantial experience in mentoring students and junior faculty, a commitment to high-quality teaching across diverse courses, and a collaborative history that features active participation in interdisciplinary initiatives.
The candidate will be appointed as a Fellow of FAU’s multidisciplinary institutes including the SNBI, I-Health, and I-SENSE, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of these positions. The academic appointment will be in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and its Department of Biomedical Engineering – dual appointments in other departments are possible, showcasing our commitment to fostering collaborative and innovative research and teaching environments. The position at the rank of Associate Professor is crucial for enhancing the university’s academic research environment, expanding the existing nexus of neuroscientific advancement and educational excellence.
Over the past 5 years, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has achieved remarkable growth, including a 190% increase in external research funding and a 171% rise in enrollment in computer science graduate programs. Additionally, the college has expanded its student internship opportunities by over 500%. The college’s commitment to innovation is evident through its numerous accolade: 11 junior faculty members received NSF or NIH CAREER awards between 2018-22, and it launched Florida’s first Masters of Science degree program in Artificial Intelligence. Recently, the college was bolstered by over $6.4 million from the NSF in graduate student training grants for AI, Data Science, and Cybersecurity. Our graduates boast some of the highest employment rates among engineering colleges in the Florida State University System, highlighting our dedication to student success and pioneering advancements in education and research.
The SNBI, formed in 2016, supports over 80 faculty level members across multiple FAU campuses, and has created multiple research core facilities (e.g., Advanced Cell Imaging, Neurobehavior) and is home to two research centers (David and Lynn Nicholson Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research and the Center for the Future of Mind, AI & Society). The SNBI is also home to the multi-college Neuroscience Graduate Program, one of two such degree programs in the state of Florida, a program with three areas of Research and Education Emphasis including Computational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering. The SNBI supports multiple community programs that introduce brain and science concepts to people of all ages, with a strong emphasis in youth programs. Recent activities of the SNBI are chronicled each year in the MASTERMINDS publication which we encourage applicants to explore.
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