Connectionists: Cognitive Neuroscientist wanted for Drug Discovery

[Christopher Chatham]

Dear Connectionists,

I appreciate this list reaches a much wider audience than just cognitive
neuroscientists, so please forgive the intrusion.

We are looking for a cognitive neuroscientist to join our growing team in
the Neurocognition and Functional Imaging group at Pfizer (Cambridge, MA);
those with experience in connectionist modeling would be a welcome addition
to our team.

*Please feel free to forward this listing to any other interested parties
or lists.*

See the full job posting or apply via
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/38609110 Excerpts from the full job
posting:

*Role Description *
*To provide expertise in clinical cognitive neuroscience, and its
application to neuropsychiatric / neurodegenerative disorders, in
combination with functional neuroimaging techniques (including e.g. fMRI,
ERP, MEG and/or TMS) to support the development of medicines from target
identification through Proof-of-Concept.
*Provide expertise on data analytic methods as applied to functional
imaging and cognitive data
*Responsibility for the delivery of the portfolio by supporiting clinical
neurocognitive and functional neuroimaging projects to support needs of the
Therapeutic Area divisions. Primary responsibility to the Neuroscience
Research unit in preclinical and early phase clinical development.
*Provide support to key projects in the Business Units that require the
knowledge of neurocognitive and functional neuroimaging for late phase
application.
*Member of a team of imaging scientists (both preclinical and clinical) in
support of the needs of neurosciences and aligned with the overall imaging
stategy of the organization.
*Maintain cutting edge knowledge of the clinical neurocognitive and
functional neuroimaging field; be aware of major advances and emerging
trends, and; maintain excellent links with academic groups worldwide.

*Responsibilities *
*Responsible for scientific quality, experimental design and interpretation
of projects involving cognitive asssessments, particularly in combination
with functional neuroimaging.
*Where relevant, provides expertise in neurocognition and functional
neuroimaging to support review committees and major decision points in the
drug development process
*Provides a point of contact for data analysis expertise, to support
cutting edge analytical procedures
*Responsible for establishing and maintaining external collaborations
(academic and industrial) to specified timelines and milestones.
*Contributes to the development of strategies that integrate knowledge of
neurocognitive and functional neuroimaging with other biological data
(proteomics, metabolomics, genetics, imaging etc…) that underpin the
development of systems biology/systems medicine
*Provides prime input to the Imaging group in terms of a particular
technique being fit for purpose and seeks support for all aspects of image
analysis.

*Qualifications *
Qualifications:
Education:
*PhD in a relevant discipline (experimental psychology preferred; strong
background in cognition essential)

Technical Ability:
*Expert in neurocognition in humans; strong and broad theoretical knowledge
across cognitive domains, demonstrated practical application of wide
variety of cognitive techniques
*Expert in the combination of cognitive assessment in conjunction with
functional neuroimaging.
*Direct experience operationalizing studies in clinical neurocognition, in
conjunction with the application of functional neuroimaging techniques
(fMRI, ERP, MET, TMS), ideally with experience in
neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative disease populations
*Direct experience of clinical imaging study design, including protocol
develop and data analysis
*Knowledge of disease area pathophysiology, and use of cognitive imaging to
explore circuit-based mechanisms
*Knowledge and experience in the application of neurocognition and
functional neuroimaging to drug discovery and development.
*Ability to provide scientific critique on ideas, interpretation of results
and direction on multiple projects.
*Publication record in the field of neurocognition and/or functional
neuroimaging.
*Strong background in data analysis and computational modelling of
behavioural and/or imaging data
Desirable:
*Direct experience in the preclinical to clinical translation of novel
functional neuroimaging techniques.
*Strong background in the technical acquisition of MRI data

Essential Attributes:
*Identifying and championing new initiatives.
*Strong quantitative skills.
*Scientific leadership combined with research project delivery.
*Successful track record of effectively working in multi- disciplinary
teams.
*Ability to problem solve and influence in complex experimental designs.
*Broad impact in scientific community externally through e.g. steering
committee, conference organizing committee or editorial board memberships.
*Track record of publications in neurocognition and/or functional
neuroimaging and invited external presentations of research activities.
*International research reputation via productive research collaborations.

Desirable Attributes:
*Experience in the application of neurocognition and/or functional
neuroimaging to drug disciovery and development.
*Proven track record of leading and delivering multiple programs in
parallel.

Competencies:
*Excellent communication skills.
*Ability to communicate ideas and opinions confidently, clearly and
honestly in both group and 1:1 situations. (Proactive, robust without being
confrontational)
*Excellent team skills with the ability to motivate teams
*Promotes the use of novel experimental approaches and routinely
investigates/creates innovative processes and methodologies.
*Self awareness and ability to proactively consult others to ensure quality
of judgment.
*Flexible, embraces new ideas and thinking.
*Must be proactive and highly motivated to apply functional and structural
neuroimaging in a drug discovery setting.

Circumstances:
*Willing to relocate to Cambridge, MA

See the full job posting or apply via
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/38609110
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