Postdoctoral Fellow (One Year Renewable), Brain and Mind Institute at Aga Khan University Hospital

Job Purpose/Summary 

The BMI at AKU is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow for an innovative grant-funded research project focused on structural brain imaging and wearable (smartwatch) data collection and analysis. This role is aimed at exploring the mechanisms of brain health and diseases. The successful applicant will join an interdisciplinary team, contributing to pioneering research with opportunities to spend time in leading laboratories at Dartmouth and University College London. The duration of the fellowship is 2 years, contingent on continued funding.

Opportunities available to the successful applicant:

• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and resources at the Brain and Mind Institute at Aga Khan University and partner institutions.
• Advanced training in neuroimage analyses and physiologic/ecological momentary assessment time series data.
• Opportunities for international travel and collaboration with world-leading researchers.
• Being part of a vibrant research community with opportunities for professional development and networking
• Making a significant contribution to brain health research and improving health outcomes in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries.

Key Roles and Responsibilities 

•  Lead and conduct research incorporating structural brain imaging, wearable technology data collection, and advanced data analysis.
• Design and execute research protocols and analysis pipelines in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, ensuring scientific integrity and ethical compliance.
• Develop innovative computational methods/models for neuroimaging and wearable sensor data analysis.
• Author and co-author research papers for publication in top-tier journals and present findings at international conferences.
• Assist in grant writing and project reporting to funding organizations.
• Supervise and mentor graduate students and junior researchers, guiding them in research methodologies, data analysis, and scientific writing.
• Engage with community stakeholders in Nairobi to align research with local health priorities and facilitate translation of research findings into practical health solutions.

Relevant Experience and Qualifications 

• Doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Neuropsychology, Psychology, Medicine, or a related field (Candidates who are in the process of completing a doctoral degree may be considered subject to their having sufficient experience)
• Demonstrated experience in neuroimaging data analysis (MRI, fMRI) and/or wearable sensor data, with strong computational skills including proficiency in R, MATLAB, or Python.
• Demonstrated experience in statistics and computational modeling.
• Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; knowledge of Swahili or other local languages is advantageous.
• Experience in multicultural research environments, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa is desirable
• An interest in community engagement and public health impact.
• Strong ability to work in a multidisciplinary team as well as independently.
• Exceptional organizational skills and a commitment to conducting high-quality research.