OHSU

Employment

Faculty Position

Neuroengineering / Ubiquitous Computing

The Department of Biomedical Engineering in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University invites applications at all ranks for a faculty position in neuroengineering. The primary interest is to extend our existing program in developing technologies that allow early detection and remediation of cognitive decline, functional disability, and chronic disease through unobtrusive, continuous, in-home technologies. OHSU is at the forefront of research in the application of technology to understand aging and neurological diseases. We seek a researcher with a well-developed program in computational behavioral and predictive modeling, and optionally with experience with ubiquitous technologies, to collaborate with our group in Biomedical Engineering and with clinicians throughout OHSU. A secondary interest is applications of speech technologies to health care. The faculty member will be expected to teach courses supporting the research program and appropriate background areas such as biomedical signal processing or statistical modeling.

OHSU offers a wealth of clinical collaboration possibilities, including neurology, the Layton Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease Center, the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology, the Center for Spoken Language Understanding, and the new Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine. We provide competitive startup and compensation packages. The appointee will be expected to maintain an independent, extramurally funded research program. Senior applicants must have demonstrated research excellence and a strong existing extramural funding portfolio. Junior applicants must show strong evidence of potential success in building a well-funded program, including participation in grant writing and experience at the postdoctoral level.

The position will start September 2012. Interested individuals should submit a CV; up to three recent reprints; statements of research interests, and teaching and mentoring experience and philosophy; and the names and contact information for three references by March 2, 2012 at www.ohsujobs.com referencing IRC35204.

OHSU is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, disabled persons, Vietnam era and disabled veterans are encouraged to apply. OHSU is a smoke-free workplace.

Portland, Oregon offers a unique combination of city culture and short hops to nature’s beauty in the Pacific Northwest. A good introduction is Travel Portland and its online magazine: http://www.travelportland.com/things-to-see-and-do/pdfs/2011-12-travel-portland-magazine.

Post-Doctoral Researcher Position

Biophysics / Neurobiology / Imaging Technology

Location: South Waterfront Campus, Center for Health & Healing

Join the interdisciplinary field of nanomedicine in Dr. Tania Vu's lab, working to develop new technologies and interventions in the areas of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Nanotechnology is an emerging field that will enable breakthroughs in biology, medicine, and environmental health. At the nano-scale (about 1/100,000 the width of a human hair) materials exhibit novel electrical, chemical, and magnetic properties that offer a precise and highly sensitive means to study biological systems and advance biomedical imaging, drug delivery, and sensor development. Dr. Vu's specific focus is on the development and application of quantum dot probes to measure neural and cellular signaling processes across time and space in order to develop molecular-scale quantitative imaging tools to illuminate these processes and develop novel diagnostic and drug interventions.

Research Thrusts:

  • Quantum Dot Imaging Technologies to Elucidate Cellular Signaling
  • Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Receptor Signaling in 3D Cell Environments
  • Quantum Dot Assays for Mapping Kinase Activity in Cancer
  • Elucidating Serotonin Receptor Signaling in Major Depression

This position is being hired to support a NIH project aimed at mapping neuronal growth factor signaling using new molecular imaging probe technologies (Ficther et al, PNAS, 2010). The successful applicant will spearhead a project to image the dynamic movement and downstream propagation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor signaling in live neurons using quantum dot probes and dynamic tracking algorithms.

Essential Duties include:
This postdoctoral researcher will develop and apply single quantum dot super-resolution imaging technology to map the kinetic movement and downstream propagation of BDNF-ERK signaling in live neurons. Key responsibilities are to develop and apply high resolution imaging microscopies to elucidate molecular mechanism of growth factor signaling. This postdoctoral researcher will publish and present research data internally and externally and attend and participate in institutional programs, seminars and lectures. This person will prepare results for publication in scientific journals and presentations at seminars; assist PI with grant preparation and submission; and provide training and guidance to graduate students.

Apply via the OHSU Human Resources website, referencing job IRC32211.

Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship

Machine Learning for Clinical Laboratory Error Detection

Todd K. Leen, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University

I have an immediate opening for a Ph.D. research assistantship to work on an NSF-funded project on developing and implementing algorithms to detect rare clinical laboratory test errors. patient data. Clinical laboratory errors affect roughly 0.5% of samples collected. Of those, approximately 75% originate during sample collection, transport, and storage -- jointly called the pre-analytic phase -- before samples reach analysis instruments. Standard quality control measures are blind to these errors, which lead to delays, additional cost, and sometimes erroneous treatments that increase risks to patients. Data derived from patient samples holds the key to detect faults introduced in the pre-analytic phase.

The project will develop active-learning approaches to sample selection for labeling, and statistical error detection. The successful candidate will have completed coursework at the masters level in machine learning and statistical modeling, with research experience that indicates capability of completing the Ph.D. Strong preference will be given to US residents.

The department grants Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering. For information on application procedure, please visit the Graduate Program web page. Please also forward your statement of interest, academic CV, GRE (and TOEFL) scores, up to two published manuscripts, and three letters of recommendation to me at leent@ohsu.edu.

OHSU is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, disabled persons, Vietnam era and disabled veterans are encouraged to apply. OHSU is a smoke-free workplace.