[visionlist] Prosopagnosia research coordinator at Harvard Medical School/VA Boston

[Joe DeGutis]

*Research Coordinator Position at Harvard Medical School/Boston VA Medical
Center*


Characterizing developmental prosopagnosia subtypes
and administering/testing the effectiveness of web-based cognitive
treatments


Objectives of the Project: Developmental prosopagnosics (DPs) are
individuals with lifelong face recognition deficits. DP is a heterogeneous
disorder and the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying DP remain to be
characterized. Also, though there have been attempts to enhance face
recognition in DPs, treatments have not been individualized to specific DP
deficits. This project aims to 1) Characterize face perception
heterogeneity in DPs using measures of holistic face processing, feature
processing, and eye-tracking, 2) Examine the neural mechanisms of
differences within DPs and between DPs/controls using functional MRI, EEG,
and diffusion tensor imaging, and 3) Determine whether DPs with and without
perceptual deficits have differential responses to face perception vs. face
memory web-based training programs.

Description: We are looking for a highly motivated, organized research
coordinator to join our team and be involved in all aspects of an
innovative NIH-funded project aimed at characterizing and treating DP. The
research coordinator would be involved in recruiting participants,
collecting/analyzing behavioral and clinical assessments, and will assist
the postdoctoral fellow(s) in collecting structural (MRI, DTI) and
functional neuroimaging data (fMRI, EEG). This position will also involve
overseeing prosopagnosics’ use of novel, innovative computer-based training
programs aimed at enhancing face perception and face memory processes and
performing pre/post-training assessments. The research coordinator will
manage and analyze data, help with manuscript/grant preparation, and
perform various administrative tasks (e.g., IRB) as needed.  Finally, the
research coordinator will have several opportunities to be involved in
publishing papers (the previous research coordinator was a coauthor on 5
papers over 2 years, 3 first-authored) and present their work at local and
national conferences. This position will also involve supervising and
coordinating other undergraduate research assistants involved in this
project. Our lab is based at the Boston VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain,
MA. We are looking for someone who can start in June and commit for two
years. The position will provide an excellent opportunity for training in
the fields of cognitive neuroscience, cognitive rehabilitation, and
neuropsychology and will uniquely prepare the individual for cognitive,
clinical, or neuroscience graduate school programs.

Our Team: This project involves working with an experienced group of
cognitive neuroscientists with expertise in face recognition/prosopagnosia
(Joe DeGutis and Brad Duchaine), EEG (Kevin Spencer), and structural and
functional MRI (Mike Esterman and David Salat). It also involves being a
member of the Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, an
interdisciplinary group of ~10 cognitive neuroscientists and clinical
psychologists/neuropsychologists interesting in characterizing the
cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying deficits in patient populations
and developing theoretically motivated, innovative cognitive training, TMS,
and pharmacological treatments.

Background required: College degree in psychology, neuroscience or related
field and interest in pursuing a career in such a field.  Previous research
experience.

Skills: The candidate must be highly organized and have excellent people
skills. Technical skills such as knowledge of neuroimaging techniques,
statistical methods, and programming are also a plus.

Salary: 43K plus full benefits

**Must be a US citizen
**Our lab values diversity and inclusion and is striving to attract and
retain diverse staff. We encourage members of traditionally
underrepresented groups, including Race and Ethnicity, Gender, Religion,
age, or disability, to apply.

If interested, please email me (Joe DeGutis, degutis at wjh.harvard.edu
<degutis at hms.harvard.edu>) with your CV and cover letter by February 15,
2022. Interviews will begin shortly thereafter.


Best regards,


Joe
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