"Postdoctoral Associate - Electrical and Computer Engineering"

Position Summary:

The Yamagami Lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University seeks applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher. The selected candidate will join a highly interdisciplinary team within the Rice Digital Health Initiative, working collaboratively with engineers, clinicians, and individuals with disabilities to design and advance technologies that support rehabilitation outcomes.

This position focuses on innovative rehabilitation strategies for individuals recovering from stroke, a leading cause of long-term disability that often results in significant arm and hand weakness. The research aims to promote neuroplasticity and functional recovery by pairing targeted rehabilitation movements with closed-loop transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in both clinical and home settings. The project also incorporates wearable sensor technology to monitor and evaluate rehabilitation progress.

Dr. Yamagami's research areas include the development of personalized human-machine interfaces that: 1.) Leverage wearable sensors to support health and rehabilitation during everyday technology use 2.) use biosignals to improve technology accessibility for people with upper-body movement disabilities 3.) are equitable for people with a diverse range of physical characteristics.

This position is a one-year term-limited position funded by a grant, soft, and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.

Workplace Requirements:

On campus position: This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:

$60k-$70k

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• No experience required

Skills:

• Strong background in biosignal processing
• Familiarity with embedded systems and microcontroller programming (e.g., Arduino) for real-time applications
• Strong communication skills
• Organization and time management skills
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment

Preferences:

• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate student teams
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities

Essential Functions:

• Collaborate with the Principal Investigator (PI) to design and implement an independent research project focused on home-based rehabilitation and post-stroke recovery
• Develop and apply longitudinal modeling approaches using smartwatch and EMG data to monitor and assess recovery outcomes
• Lead an interdisciplinary research team to refine and optimize an existing EMG-triggered taVNS prototype for deployment in clinical and home settings
• Serve as the primary engineering liaison for in-clinic and at-home testing, supporting the translation of medical device prototypes into clinical practice
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Please include a cover letter outlining your research background, technical expertise, and how your experience aligns with the goals of the research project.