Postdoctoral Research Fellow

About the Opportunity

About the Roux Institute and The Jackson Laboratory

The Roux Institute at Northeastern University (NU) and The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) are seeking a co-mentored postdoctoral fellow as part of a new JAX/Roux Institute joint Applied Data Science Postdoctoral Fellowship program. Under this program, the postdoctoral trainee will be co-mentored by NU and JAX researchers working on "Grand Challenges" identified by Roux and JAX executive leadership. These Grand Challenges are jointly selected programs that enhance the JAX/Roux partnership, align with each institution's strategic priorities, and integrate biological and data science. This cycle's Grand Challenge focus is on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.

The position will be located at The Roux Institute at Northeastern University, in Portland, Maine, where JAX has a co-located JAX Portland research site.

Job Summary

The postdoc will contribute to and help lead projects related to the development and validation of models in the precision health domain that aim at diagnosing various types of disease and recommending optimal treatments for patients. The position will be supervised by Research Professors and will be conducted with experimental researchers who are collaborating partners of the Roux Institute, and will include opportunities for collaboration with other faculty at the Roux Institute and other colleges at Northeastern University.

This project will involve Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and the cerebrovascular deficits that occur prior to hallmark pathologies such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of TAU, neuronal dysfunction, and cognitive decline. Tracking cerebrovascular health in at-risk but cognitively normal individuals will greatly facilitate early detection of those most at risk of developing dementia, allowing the opportunity for early intervention. To tackle this critical question, Drs. Christine Lary (Roux) and Gareth Howell (JAX) have developed a strong and interactive consortium that includes Northern Light Acadia Hospital and the University of Maine to perform complementary human and mouse studies that combine eye tests with blood tests to identify those going through the earliest stages of ADRD. The team is performing complementary human and mouse studies to evaluate plasma biomarkers in combination with retinal vascular health as biomarkers for ADRD. The Roux Institute and JAX are seeking a highly motivated individual to join this exciting collaborative research program that builds upon existing strengths in ADRD biology and genetics (JAX) and bioinformatics methods and machine learning approaches (Roux) to evaluate novel biomarkers for ADRD.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Data Science, or a related field
• Experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL), particularly in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Computer Vision (CV)
• Familiarity with genomic and bioinformatic databases
• Strong record of publications
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced and innovative setting

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.