POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP – Development of a High-Density Cerebellar Prosthesis: A Neural Engineering Approach to Restore Function
A post-doctoral research fellow position is available to join a multidisciplinary team advancing the development of a cerebellar neuroprosthesis to restore function in cerebellar disorders. Our project targets the restoration of gait, tremor, and balance through a neuroprosthetic that combines advanced neural recording, stimulation technology, and AI-driven closed-loop neuromodulation.
We are developing a non-human primate (NHP) model of cerebellar dysfunction and recording activity across premotor cortex, motor cortex, motor thalamus, and deep cerebellar nuclei using Utah arrays, laminar electrodes, and deep brain stimulation technologies. Because the cortical and thalamic signals we record can also be accessed in humans with clinically approved electrode technologies, our approach is designed to be directly translatable to future human applications. Our long-term goal is to develop a prosthesis that bypasses the diseased cerebellum to restore motor function.
The fellow will have the opportunity to:
- Perform large-scale neural recordings and stimulation in awake behaving primates using Utah arrays and motor thalamus DBS electrodes.
- Develop and test AI-driven, closed-loop prosthetic strategies for cerebellar disorders.
- Analyze multimodal datasets linking cortical, thalamic, and cerebellar activity to locomotion, tremor, and postural control.
- Collaborate directly with co-investigators Adam Charles (computational neuroscience/biomedical engineering) and Kurt Lehner (neurosurgery), along with other biomedical engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians to accelerate translation toward human application.
Qualifications
- PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
- Background in at least one of the following: nhp electrophysiology, neuroprosthetics, closed-loop control, or computational modeling.
- Experience with large-scale neural recording/stimulation technologies or machine learning approaches is desirable but not required.
Project Resources & Environment
This fellowship is funded as part of a multi-PI, externally supported collaborative initiative in neural engineering and translational neuroscience. The fellow will have access to state-of-the-art neural recording and stimulation technologies (Utah arrays, motor thalamus DBS electrodes, custom laminar probes), advanced behavioral systems, and high-performance computing. The project is embedded in a highly collaborative environment at Johns Hopkins, with close partnerships in neurosurgery, computational neuroscience, and biomedical engineering, supported by weekly joint journal clubs and cross-lab project meetings.
Application
Interested candidates should email a CV and contact information for two referees to:
Kathleen Cullen, PhD
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
Email: kathleen.cullen@jhu.edu
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP – Neural Mechanisms for Coding Active Self-Motion: Kathleen Cullen’s Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
A post-doctoral research fellow position is available to study the neural mechanisms underlying the brain’s representation and prediction of self-motion in every self-generated day life. We use a combination of neurophysiological and behavioral analyses, and computational approaches to understand the predictive coding of self-motion that underlies our essential ability to distinguish our own self-generated motion from that which externally applied. We seek a postdoctoral fellow interested in studying how different brain regions areas of the cerebellum and cortex combine multimodal information to ensure stable perception and accurate motor control. Candidates should have (or be about to have) a doctoral degree in neuroscience, engineering, applied physics, cognitive neuroscience, experimental psychology, or a related discipline. Experience in electrophysiological recordings from awake animals, and programming in C or Matlab would be preferred, but is not mandatory.
Project Resources: Recently expanded neurophysiology laboratories are equipped for high density neural recording and circuit manipulation, and include machine learning and deep neural network-based technologies to simultaneously capture and analyze animal locomotion and gaze behavior, real-time data acquisition and real-time control and analysis systems, and a dynamic 6D motion platform. The fellow will have a strong multidisciplinary training experience through interactions with multiple laboratories in at Johns Hopkins University which hold a weekly joint journal club in systems and computational neuroscience. Strong surgical, technical, and programming support is also available.
If interested, please send/email a CV with the names of two referees to Kathleen Cullen (kathleen.cullen@jhu.edu).
Post-doctoral fellowship in Vestibular Rehabilitation: Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University
We are recruiting a post-doctoral fellow to develop and test a novel kinematics-based approach to inform vestibular rehabilitation. Our work aims to:
1) determine the kinematic differences between healthy controls and patients with unilateral vestibular deafferentation during gait and gaze stability exercises, 2) compare recovery outcomes of patients following prescriptions aided by on-line kinematic data to those of patients receiving traditional vestibular rehabilitation based on clinician assessment only, and 3) compare recovery outcomes of patients given additional kinematic feedback at home via mobile app to i) patients treated using traditional vestibular rehabilitation and ii) patients provided kinematic feedback only during outpatient visits.
Required skills
Eligible applicants should have earned a PhD or ScD in Movement Science, Kinesiology, Neuroscience or Psychology. We seek applicants with strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills. Applicants should have a desire to work as a team member. Prior experience measuring walking kinematics (e.g., gait analysis, body worn sensors, etc.) is desirable. During their training, the post-doctoral fellow will be provided with opportunities to continue to develop professional development skills via publishing manuscripts, developing grant proposals, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. The fellow will have a strong multidisciplinary training experience through interactions with multiple laboratories in the Center for Hearing and Balance at Johns Hopkins University, which holds weekly joint seminars and spans the Depts. of Otolaryngology, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Engineering. Technical and programming support is also available through the associated Department of Biomedical Engineering.
If interested, please email a letter of interest, CV, and names of three references to: Kathleen Cullen (kathleen.cullen@jhu.edu) or Michael Schubert (mschube1@jhmi.edu).
Current/incoming graduate students
We always welcome new rotation students. Please contact Dr. Cullen (kathleen.cullen@jhu.edu) to discuss the possibility and details of the rotation.
Potential graduate students
We accept graduate students through both the PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. Potential students are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Cullen (kathleen.cullen@jhu.edu)
Undergraduate students
We are always looking to work with talented and motivated undergraduate students. Any inquiries should be directed to Dr. Cullen (kathleen.cullen@jhu.edu).
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.