Staff Scientist

This position is open to NIMH Intramural Staff only. The position will support research activities in the Emotion and Development Branch (EDB), Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience (SDAN) within the Division of Intramural Research Programs (IRP) at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The candidate will design, conduct, and analyze experiments using structural and functional MRI to investigate brain mechanisms underlying anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as potential neuroimaging markers of treatment response. The position requires experience with organizing and processing large datasets of MRI data, and a high level of technical expertise and scientific independence.. The work will involve the application of established and emerging methodologies, including, naturalistic stimuli fMRI, identification of potential treatment targets using surface-based methods, predictive and multivariate data analysis, to advance understanding of the neural, behavioral, or biological mechanisms underlying mental health and mental illness. Responsibilities include execution and optimization of complex experimental protocols, operation and oversight of specialized research equipment, data analysis and interpretation, and collaboration within multidisciplinary research teams. The individual will contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and internal reports and may assist with training or mentoring as appropriate. All work will be conducted in accordance with NIH policies and NIMH’s mission to advance rigorous, reproducible research with relevance to public health priorities established by HHS.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) in psychiatry or psychology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience in MRI applied to psychiatric and psychological research
• Ability to conduct work at a high level of independence while still collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with large MRI datasets of a pediatric population
• Prior involvement in neuroimaging research with a strong publication record.
• Familiarity with NIH research environments and associated policies and procedures
• Demonstrated commitment to scientific rigor, reproducibility, and ethical conduct of research

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. To learn more, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The National Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles. NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the NIH Ethics Website. This position is subject to a background investigation and requires a public financial disclosure report prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Foreign Education Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is equivalent to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. We will only accept the completed foreign education evaluation. For more information on foreign education verification, visit the https://www.naces.org website.

NIH provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation during any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.