Postdoctoral Fellow

Society for Neuroscience
United States, Maryland, Bethesda
Jul 10, 2025
Postdoctoral Fellow Employer National Institute of Mental Health Location Bethesda, Maryland Salary $67,200-111,050 Closing date Sep 22, 2025 View more categories View less categories Sector Government Job Function Postdoctoral Researcher Research Area Cognition, Development, Sensory Systems Position Type Full Time Level Any Experience Level Considered Unravel how the developing brain builds cognition-and what happens when it goes awry The Section on Cellular and Cognitive Neurodevelopment (SCCN) at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH (USA) is recruiting three highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellows to join a bold research effort at the intersection of development, brain circuits, and behavior. Our central mission: to understand how early neural circuit formation sculpts cognition, and how early-life disruptions may seed psychiatric and neurological disorders. While many overlook development in systems neuroscience, SCCN makes it the focus, leveraging advanced approaches to investigate how neural substrates evolve and adapt across the lifespan. One of our primary targets is the pulvinar nuclei of the thalamus. This brain region has undergone significant expansion through evolution and is increasingly associated with cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric diseases. We use a cell-to-system approach in both animal models (including the marmoset monkey) and humans to explore how thalamocortical circuits support high-level behaviors. Our work has revealed, for example, that a small subdivision of the pulvinar is essential for the development of visually guided reach-and-grasp behavior,and that damage during early life can profoundly impair this function. Unravel how the developing brain builds cognition-and what happens when it goes awry The Section on Cellular and Cognitive Neurodevelopment (SCCN) at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH (USA) is recruiting three highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellows to join a bold research effort at the intersection of development, brain circuits, and behavior. Our central mission: to understand how early neural circuit formation sculpts cognition, and how early-life disruptions may seed psychiatric and neurological disorders. While many overlook development in systems neuroscience, SCCN makes it the focus, leveraging advanced approaches to investigate how neural substrates evolve and adapt across the lifespan. One of our primary targets is the pulvinar nuclei of the thalamus. This brain region has undergone significant expansion through evolution and is increasingly associated with cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric diseases. What We're Looking For We welcome candidates who: Hold a PhD or MD/PhD in Neuroscience, Systems Neurobiology, Development, Cognitive Behavior, Evolution, Pharmacology, or related fields Have fewer than 5 years of postdoctoral experience Are eager to spearhead their own projects, contribute to team efforts, and grow in a multidisciplinary environment Why Join Us? Cutting-edge resources and mentorship at the world's largest biomedical research institution A highly collaborative environment with experts across genetics, imaging, behavior, and computation Access to state-of-the-art facilities and novel technologies A chance to make foundational discoveries with significant impact How to Apply Please send: A CV with bibliography A statement of research interests and career goals Contact details for three references