Position Summary

The DRIVES Project is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate with interests in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), biomarkers, driving, machine learning, and/or geographic information system. This role would advance three, ongoing NIH/NIA R01 funded grants that investigate the long-term impact of AD brain pathology on driving behavior and driving cessation among persons with and without preclinical AD. The ability to identify who will be at most risk of driving decline and to predict when decline will occur will inform early driving safety intervention trials for older drivers.

Our research program employs several methods to study driving including a standardized road test, self-report driving habits, and naturalistic driving behavior using the Driving Real-world In-Vehicle Evaluation System. We also collect a cadre of biomarkers to study disease pathology, including brain imaging (Positron Emission Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and fluid-based (cerebrospinal fluid, blood/plasma) biomarkers.

We seek a Postdoctoral Research Associate with strong statistical skills to analyze high fidelity data relating to whether daily driving behavior reflects underlying neuropathological AD and is associated with prevalent and incident cognitive impairment. The ideal candidate is driven, independent, and able to apply engineering and computational techniques to enhance the performance of existing databases, design new programs for the analyses, write new support programs/scripts, and perform debugging procedures on database scripts and programs.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic, collaborative, and growing laboratory, and will work directly with Dr. Ganesh Babulal to develop new models to examine and visualize changes in driving behavior. The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to work with world leaders in AD research, including experts in fluid biomarkers, brain imaging, genetics, and cognitive assessments. In addition to high-quality research facilities, career and professional development training for postdoctoral researchers is provided through the Career Center, Teaching Center, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and campus groups.

This appointment is viewed as a training or transitional period preparatory to an academic, industrial, governmental, or other full-time research or teaching career. This is up to a two-year appointment.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):

• Manages their own projects based on very large datasets, which should lead to at least 3 first author publications/annually.
• Develops proficiency in ADRD, aging, and driving.
• Develops proficiency in technical skills with particular focus on longitudinal analysis.
• Develops proficiency in their ancillary skills, e.g., writing, public speaking, networking, critical evaluation of scientific documents, etc.
• Presents scientific work both inside and outside the University.
• Assists with grant preparation and reporting.
• Prepares and submits papers on research.
• Assists in the design of research studies.
• Evaluates research findings and assists in the reporting of the results.
• Maintains conformity with ethical standards in research.
• Maintains compliance with good laboratory practice, including the maintenance of adequate research records.
• Performs complex systems setup of relational data and writes interpretative reports.
• Evaluates commercial off-the-shelf and academic bioinformatics programs.
• Solves practical problems relating to difficulties with software, hardware, and data architecture.
• Engages in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Maintains collegial conduct towards co-trainees, staff members and all members of the research group.
• Adheres to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations.

Working Conditions:

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary