Post Doctoral Associate-B.I.O.N.I.C. Lab

The B.I.O.N.I.C. Lab seeks a Post Doctoral Associate to resolve how intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and next-generation photoresponsive electrodes evoke specific somatosensory and visual percepts, working across the two grant-aligned threads below.

The first thread operationalizes the Bidirectional Translation Framework in Kozai et al., JNE 2026 ("Solving the Problem of Inception"), pairing reverse-translation experiments (ICMS in individuals with spinal cord injury implanted with microelectrode arrays in primary somatosensory cortex during real-time BCI control, with the Gaunt and Collinger groups) with forward-translation experiments in NHP visual cortex (Gharbawie) and mouse visual cortex (Vazquez, Hooks, Kozai), thereby converting human perceptual reports into testable circuit hypotheses and returning optimized stimulation parameters to clinical BCI users.

The second thread, R01 NS105691 (MPI Kozai/Li, NINDS, PO Doe Kumsa), develops untethered boron-doped diamond Wireless Axon microelectrodes (MCD and NCD) that decouple the skull-to-tissue mechanical tether, reducing chronic micromotion-driven inflammation, and that exploit photovoltaic (capacitive) and photothermal stimulation to enhance somatic versus axonal selectivity relative to faradaic ICMS, with chronic in vivo validation in mouse visual cortex via two-photon calcium imaging, intrinsic signal optical imaging, and electrophysiology.

Both threads converge on a single mechanistic question, how spatially patterned current or photonic delivery recruits identified neuronal populations in sensory cortex across acute and chronic timescales, with secondary opportunities to extend the platform to gliomodulation, AD, MS, and neuroinflammation as career-development directions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Design and execute chronic in vivo ICMS and Wireless Axon photostimulation experiments in mouse visual cortex, combining two-photon calcium and hemodynamic imaging, intrinsic signal optical imaging, Neuropixels and high-density electrophysiology, and slice electrophysiology validation
2. Contribute to NHP visual cortex ICMS experiments in the Gharbawie lab and to analysis of human somatosensory ICMS datasets in the Gaunt and Collinger groups, building the cross-species comparisons that the Inception framework requires
3. Characterize boron-doped MCD and NCD diamond electrodes through electrochemistry (CV, EIS, voltage transients), photovoltaic and photothermal benchtop assays, and chronic in vivo biocompatibility, in coordination with the Li Lab (MSU) on device iteration
4. Quantify how stimulation parameters (waveform, frequency, pulse width, irradiance) map onto cell-type-specific recruitment, mesoscale circuit dynamics, and behavioral or perceptual outcomes across species
5. Build reproducible multimodal analysis pipelines in MATLAB, Python, and ImageJ or Fiji, with code released alongside publication
6. Prepare first-author manuscripts, present at SfN, NER, and BRAIN PI meetings, and contribute to renewal and follow-on grant applications
7. Mentor graduate and undergraduate trainees in surgical, imaging, electrochemical, and computational methods

The postdoc will cross-train across the labs of Robert Gaunt and Jennifer Collinger (human somatosensory BCI), Omar Gharbawie (NHP visual cortex), Alberto Vazquez (mouse visual cortex hemodynamics and two-photon), Bryan "Mac" Hooks (mouse visual and sensorimotor circuits), Chengcheng Huang (computational modeling), and Wen Li (MSU, diamond device fabrication), under the University of Pittsburgh Neural Engineering Cross-Translation (UP NExT) initiative.

Qualifications

Required:

1. Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Optics, Materials Science, Molecular or Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Mathematics
2. Proficiency in signal processing and quantitative analysis in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent, evidenced by first-author publication or shared code
3. Strong scientific writing and oral communication, with manuscript and conference experience
4. Ability to work independently and within an interdisciplinary team

Preferred (one or more):

1. In vivo multiphoton microscopy in visual or sensorimotor cortex, including stereotaxic surgery, chronic cranial window preparation, and AAV delivery
2. ICMS, optogenetics, or neuromodulation experience, particularly in visual cortex
3. NHP electrophysiology, NHP visual neuroscience, or analysis of human cortical recording datasets
4. Electrochemistry (CV, EIS, voltage transient analysis), confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, or SEM characterization of neural electrodes
5. Computational modeling of neural circuits, volume conduction, or stimulation-evoked activation
6. Familiarity with brain-machine interface paradigms or sensory neuroprosthetic design
7. Secondary interests in glial biology, neurodegeneration (MS, AD, stroke), or neuroinflammation, as career-development extensions of the primary somatosensory-visual ICMS program

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.