Postdoctoral Associate - Psychiatry - Behavioral Med - Sweitzer Lab
Durham, NC, US, 27710
School of Medicine
Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
A two-year postdoctoral research position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Maggie Sweitzer in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. Our research combines laboratory behavioral pharmacology, ecological momentary assessment, and functional neuroimaging to examine neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying risk for addictive disorders—with a primary focus on tobacco dependence and relapse—and translating this information to develop more efficacious interventions.
This position is supported by two NIDA-funded grants. The first project, NEURONIC, utilizes a nasal spray paradigm to assess reactions to nicotine in a controlled, laboratory setting as a model of risk for addiction. This paradigm allows us to prospectively evaluate neurobehavioral pathways contributing to vulnerability to addiction. In this study, we are specifically interested in examining the role of cortico-striatal circuitry in mediating risk for tobacco use among individuals with a history of childhood adversity.
The second project, PRISM, is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between Dr. Sweitzer and Dr. Katherine Martucci, in the Department of Anesthesiology. This study uses an MRI-compatible thermo-stimulation device to probe the neural underpinnings of a behavioral phenomenon frequently observed in people who smoke cigarettes—that withdrawal from smoking leads to increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia). Building upon preliminary findings from a Duke Institute for Brain Sciences Incubator award, we will examine how withdrawal changes the brain’s processing of painful stimuli in people with and without chronic pain, as well as its impact on their ability to abstain from smoking.
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to MRI data collection, preprocessing, and analyses for these studies, as well as providing tiered supervision for staff working on these projects. There are also ample opportunities for working with existing datasets on data analyses, manuscript preparation, and presentation of findings at national meetings. The ideal candidate would have a strong interest in pursuing an academic research career, with background in psychology, behavioral pharmacology, and/or neuroscience. A strong quantitative background and/or experience with fMRI data analysis is preferred.
Duke offers a highly collaborative environment with numerous opportunities for professional development. Co-mentorship with other faculty working in addiction and with large-scale neuroimaging datasets (e.g., ABCD) may be available. In addition, opportunities for accruing hours and supervision toward clinical licensure may be available. Interested applicants should send a brief letter of interest and CV to Maggie Sweitzer (maggie.sweitzer@duke.edu).
Minimum Qualifications
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Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain positions at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and guidance regarding requests for reasonable accommodations will be provided by the hiring department.
Education
Please refer to the specific job description for detailed education requirements.
Experience
Please refer to the specific job description for detailed experience requirements.
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
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