Open Positions

Are you interested in understanding how the brain processes language and how neurological conditions affect communication?


Join the ALBA Lab!

Postdoctoral Fellow - Automated Speech & Language Analyses in Dementia

Job Summary

The ALBA Language Neurobiology laboratory (https://albalab.ucsf.edu/) of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center has an open postdoctoral position to work with Dr. Jet Vonk and Dr. Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini. The selected candidate will participate in projects that focus on automated speech and language analyses in a range of neurological diseases and conditions, including primary progressive aphasia (PPA), behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, as well as cognitively normal individuals. The candidate will be involved in evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic utility of acoustic and linguistics features in connected speech across dementia syndromes, and validate these features against standard clinical measures, including cognitive tests. The candidate will have the opportunity to be involved in a translational research project and work closely with the current members of the team, and contribute to our empirical efforts to further our understanding of the neurobiology of language.

Required qualifications

  • PhD in a related science area such as linguistics, speech-language-hearing sciences, psychology, neuropsychology, neurology, neuroscience, cognitive science, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Previous work experience with Natural Language Processing (NLP), statistics, and big data analytics, including machine learning.
  • Familiarity with cognitive data and dementia research.
  • Familiarity with at least one programming or scripting language such as Python, Matlab, R, or C/C++. 

Preferred qualifications

  • Familiarity and experience with MRI analyses and structural equation modeling will be a plus.
  • Strong writing skills demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-based environment.

How to Apply

  • Please send a cover letter describing your interests and relevant prior experience, a CV, and 3 names of potential references to [email protected]
  • Applicants from historically excluded, marginalized & underrepresented groups in cognitive research are especially encouraged to apply