The Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine（PONS）at the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence（ISTBI）, Fudan University, Shanghai and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany Director: Professor Gunter Schumann is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Population Neuroscience

PONS is a newly established centre at ISTBI that thrives to be a worldwide leader in population neuroscience, an emerging discipline investigating the complexity and heterogeneity of behaviour and mental illness on a population level by identifying environmental and genomic factors that shape the structure and function of the human brain. PONS works in close partnership with the Charite（https://charite.de）, one of Europe's largest university hospitals and research institutions, affiliated with Humboldt University and Free University Berlin, which is ranked fifth best hospital in the world and best in Europe（Newsweek 2019/2020）. PONS integrates neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience,（epi）genomics and epidemiological research with novel tools for environmental assessments, such as ecological momentary assessments using smart phone applications, social media analyses, and satellite-based remote sensing acquisitions. It aims at the identification of markers and brain mechanisms of risk and resilience for mental illness in different environmental contexts, such as pandemics, pollution, climate change, migration or urbanicity. This knowledge will be applied to develop neurobehavioural interventions targeted at causal brain mechanisms for prevention and early intervention of disease on a public health-relevant scale.

The Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence（ISTBI）, Fudan University, Shanghai is the first scientific research and innovation institution of brain science, artificial intelligence and brain-like research in China. At present, the research take the lead in brain and brain intelligent transformation and application of basic research of Shanghai municipal science and technology major projects, for the Shanghai center for brain and brain research network unit, is to undertake a national and Shanghai brain and brain related to major research plan of the strategy research and task organization, committed to build a brain and brain intelligence class the forefront of the international first-class research center.

Description of field of application:

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated colleague to investigate environmental influences on brain development and behaviour, with a particular emphasis on global mental health. We aim to identify risk constellations and neurobehavioral trajectories for mental disorders and their moderation by global environmental challenges. The research will involve comparative analyses of large scale behavioural neuroimaging datasets in Europe, India, China and USA. Applying advanced statistical methods and innovative methodology, such as remote sensing satellite data, the project seeks to investigate how environmental challenges associated with urbanisation, climate change, pollution or pandemics shape brain structure/function and behaviour.

Areas of responsibility:

• Take a leading role in development, adaptation and implementation of state of the art stratification and prediction techniques, including advanced representational approaches.

• Apply these approaches to large scale, high dimensional datasets involving neuroimaging, behavioural,  environmental and –omics.

• Take a leading role in the publication and dissemination of data.

• Present at academic meetings and contribute to the visibility of the project and its aims.

• Work as a conscientious and committed member of the team in order to achieve the aims of the project.

• Assist with the supervision of PhD and MSc candidates and with the general running of the group.

Your Profile:

PhD in a relevant discipline（computer science, biomathematics）awarded, or thesis submitted, or thesis near completion.

• A very good understanding of biomathematical and computer science methods applicable for phenotype stratification and prediction.

• Experience of working with behavioural, epidemiologic and/or biological datasets.

• Thorough conceptual understanding and experience in machine learning or/and deep learning methodology.

• Evidence of the ability to publish in high-impact scientific journals.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including willingness to introduce and help other colleagues with mathematics/statistics skills.

• Good organisational skills.

• Professional and enthusiastic attitude.

• German language skills desirable, but not essential.

Starting Date:

01.06.2021

Length of employment:

20 months

Working time（hrs./week）:

40 hrs/week

Application:

Applicants should send the application materials to gongyanting9458@163.com and the subject of the email should indicate the position + name + gaoxiaojob. 【快捷投递：点击下方“立即申请/投递简历”，即刻进行职位报名】

Application information includes:

（1）Cover letter, including research plan

（2）CV

（3）Certificates, Attestations

Contact information:

For questions, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Gunter Schumann, email: gunter.schumann1961@gmail.com & gongyanting9458@163.com