Connectionists: position: data scientist / data analyst researcher at NIMH

[Francisco Pereira]

(reposting for a colleague, please follow contact instructions at the
end if interested; apologies for repeated postings!)

### HIRING: Data Analyst / Data Scientist Position at the CDN Lab

The Unit on Computational Decision Neuroscience (CDN,
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/research-areas/clinics-and-labs/edb/cdn
) at the National Institute of Mental Health is seeking a full-time
Data Scientist/Data Analyst.

The lab is focused on understanding the neural and computational bases
of adaptive and maladaptive decision-making and their relationship to
mental health. Current studies investigate how internal states lead to
biases in decision-making and how this is exacerbated in mental health
disorders. Our approach involves a combination of computational
model-based tasks, questionnaires, biosensor data, fMRI, and
intracranial recordings. The main models of interest come from
neuroeconomics, reinforcement learning, Bayesian inference, signal
detection, and information theory.

The main tasks for this position include but are not restricted to
computational modeling of behavioral data from decision-making and
other cognitive tasks, statistical analysis of task-based, clinical,
physiological and neuroimaging data, as well as data visualization for
the purposes of scientific presentations, public communication, and
academic manuscripts. The candidate is expected to demonstrate
experience with best practices for the development of well-documented,
reproducible programming pipelines for data analysis, that facilitate
sharing and collaboration, and live up to our open-science philosophy,
as well as to our data management and sharing commitments at NIH.

No prior experience with psychiatry research is needed but a
familiarity with the constructs and models of interest in the lab
(value-based learning and decision-making, metacognition, belief
updating, emotion regulation, and/or effort-cost estimation) is
desirable, as these are universally important for understanding
adaptive healthy functioning and psychiatric disease.

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with established
programming and analytic skills to work at the cutting edge of
psychiatry research and computational cognitive neuroscience.

You can find more about our work and recent publications at

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/research-areas/clinics-and-labs/edb/cdn

## Job Requirements:

- Assisting with setting up and managing analysis pipelines
- Conducting advanced analysis of behavioral, physiological, and
imaging data, including but not limited to computational modeling and
machine learning
- Integrating complex datasets across multiple modalities, including
fMRI, electrophysiology, biosensor data neuroendocrinology, behavior,
and self-report
- Assisting in data visualization for manuscripts and presentation of
results at scientific meetings
- Supporting/co-mentoring junior members of the lab on data analysis practices

## Qualifications:

- A PhD in neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, computer
science, data science, statistics, engineering, or a related field
- Strong programming skills (ideally in Python, and/or MATLAB, R)
- Experience working within Linux environment and cloud computing
- An ability to work well in multidisciplinary and highly collaborative teams
- An interest in translational research
- A track record or potential for scholarly productivity
- Effective independent problem-solving and task prioritization

## Experience with any of the following is not required, but preferred:

- Computational modeling (mathematical optimization, reinforcement
learning, Bayesian inference, neuroeconomics or other types of
modeling of human/animal learning and decision-making)
- statistical inference (e.g. generalized linear models, mixed effect
models, state space models, survival analysis)
- Dynamic analysis of longitudinal or time series data (e.g.
neuroimaging, MEG, EEG, or neural recordings)
- Advanced statistical methods and machine learning

The data analyst will work under the supervision of Dr. Silvia
Lopez-Guzman on projects that aim to understand (1) the process of
adaptively evaluating options and committing to a choice; (2) how
changes in internal and motivational states may abnormally shape
decisions in individuals with and without psychopathology; and (3) how
cognitive and metacognitive resources support these adaptive or
maladaptive decision-making processes. The CDN lab leverages the rich
clinical resources and computational expertise across the NIH, and
collaborates actively with labs that specialize on addiction,
depression, anxiety, and pain. The lab is an active part of a growing
community of expert labs on learning and decision-making who work
together to improve our understanding from the circuits and behavioral
neuroscience level to the human cognitive and clinical levels, making
this a unique opportunity for any scientist with an interest in
decision science and computational psychiatry.

## How to Apply:

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to Dr. Silvia
Lopez-Guzman (silvia.lopezguzman at nih.gov ) with the subject “CDN Lab
Data Analyst App”. Inquiries about any aspect of the position are very
welcome!