
Website UCSF Memory and Aging Center
Postdoctoral Position Available
Research opportunities in biological and behavioral drivers of aging and neurodegenerative disease
We are seeking curious, interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellows to contribute to ongoing clinical research and pursue related areas of their own focus on the Brain Aging for Cognitive Health (BrANCH) Team. Interest in clinical training is not required but available for qualified neuropsychology fellows. Clinical training opportunities in neuropsychology are aligned with Houston guidelines (see below). The ideal candidate has clinical research experience, demonstrated research productivity, and is interested in specializing in cognitive aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Training in one or more of the following areas is helpful, though not necessary: molecular biology, computational biology, neuroscience, biostatistics, and/or neuropsychology.
BrANCH aims to understand the complex biological, genetic, and lifestyle factors that underlie differential brain aging trajectories. We have large, deeply phenotyped research cohorts with an extensive research infrastructure that supports standard and experimental neuropsychological and neurological measures, structural and functional MRI, amyloid and tau PET, and biofluid proteomics. The overarching goals are to gain a better understanding of what healthy aging is and identify the earliest changes associated with degenerative brain disease. Specific areas of current projects include blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain tissue proteomic datasets from longitudinal studies of ‘typical’ cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration; biological underpinnings of person-specific factors associated with cognitive risk and resilience, including biological sex, genetic background, and lifestyle (e.g., exercise); and digital health tools (e.g., wearables) to identify and monitor risk at the earliest stages. Interested fellows will work collaboratively with our mentorship team from the UCSF Brain Aging Network for Cognitive Health (PIs: Dr. Joel Kramer, Dr. Kaitlin Casaletto, Dr. Emily Paolillo, Dr. Rowan Saloner).
Clinical Opportunities: The MAC is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for individuals with cognitive problems, conducting research on causes and cures for degenerative brain diseases, and educating health professionals, patients, and families. Multidisciplinary clinical opportunities will range from healthy cognitive aging to typical (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) and atypical (e.g., frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasias, corticobasal syndrome, prion disease) neurodegenerative syndromes. Fellows will work closely with world experts in behavioral neurology and gain experience with multiple other disciplines (e.g., neuroimaging, geriatrics, nursing, speech pathology). Postdoctoral fellows with interest in clinical training typically spend approximately 60-80% of their time engaged in research activities, 20-30% in clinical activities, and the rest of their time in training, supervision, supervising predoctoral trainees, and a wide variety of didactic opportunities.
More information: For more information, please review the UCSF MAC website (http://memory.ucsf.edu/) and/or email Dr. Joel Kramer, Dr. Kaitlin Casaletto, Dr. Emily Paolillo, Dr. Rowan Saloner.
Applications: Please submit a cover letter, CV, and 3 letters of recommendation to Valentina.Diaz@ucsf.edu. Applicants are also encouraged to submit PDFs of their most relevant research products. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
To apply for this job please visit ucsf.edu.