Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science

Postdoctoral T32 Training Program in Recovery and Restoration of CNS Health and Function

Funding Opportunities

Applications closed.

The goal of this exciting new multidisciplinary, multi-institutional training program based at Massachusetts General Hospital and the School of Engineering and the Carney Institute for Brain Science at Brown University, is to enhance recovery from disabling brain injuries by filling a pressing need for clinician-scientists and neuroengineers trained to leverage the computational neurosciences and to develop and test device-based and other interventions for patients. 

We seek post-doctoral (MD or MD/PhD) clinician-scientists and post-doctoral (PhD) neuroengineers/computational neuroscientists to train under a multidisciplinary training faculty from anesthesia, biomedical engineering, computational neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, and radiology.

This program is designed to meet individual objectives. Research projects must be within at least one of the following four thematic areas: 1) Clinical research and clinical trials, 2) Computational neuroscience, 3) From neural recording to neural imaging, 4) Neural repair and neuromodulation. The program’s core is a group of collaborative, multidisciplinary faculty mentors in engineering and the clinical neurosciences. We develop future academic researchers who have expertise in both engineering and clinical neuroscience, and who can communicate effectively across these domains.

  • At least 80% of time spent on conducting a closely-mentored, independent research project in the laboratory of trainee’s primary mentor, and learning to collaborate with others (secondary mentor) as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Attend targeted seminars, journal clubs, visiting scholar talks, monthly lunches
  • Writing & Presenting – instruction and practice
  • Professional skills workshops
  • Attend Grand Rounds in the clinical specialty related to trainee research when relevant topics are being presented
  • Spend no more than 20% of time on clinical care
  • Participate in weekly lab meetings, in tutorials with the lab director related to their research and in all other lab activities.
  • Develop and perfect proposals for K-awards or the equivalent during their Year 2 of the fellowship
  • One course per year (audit or pass/fail) in advanced engineering or clinical trials methods in area of interest. The Program Director can waive or adjust this requirement for trainees.

Fellowship Positions Available:

  • 1 Post-doctoral neuroengineer/computational neuroscientist (PhD fellows)
  • 1 Post-doctoral clinician-scientist (MD or MD/PhD clinical fellows)
  • Eligible trainees will be supported for 2 years and must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents (Green Card holder).
  • Identify a T32 mentor or, if your intended primary mentor is not listed as a T32 faculty member on the list below, please choose a T32 faculty member as a co-mentor prior to applying. This T32 is intended to provide a substantially new experience for its fellows. While collaboration amongst labs is encouraged, we generally expect that the primary mentor and lab will be different from the applicant’s current mentor/lab. In cases where the applicant wishes to propose continuing in their current lab, s/he must make a clear case that their proposal is a departure from their current line of work.
  • With the help of your mentor, and possibly co-mentor, design a project that fits the objectives and components of this training program.
  • Submit your current CV, a 2 page Letter of Intent (including aims, the methods for proposed project, and a plan for progression to independent funding after the project is completed), and your mentor’s and co-mentor’s NIH Biosketch to Katrina Screen, kscreen@partners.org, along with the names of three referees who have agreed to be contacted as references.

The fellowship can support up to four fellows simultaneously (generally two 1st and two 2nd year fellows). For accepted fellows, start dates are negotiated with the Program Director and the primary mentor.

Mentor List:

Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc; Neurology
  • Ross Zafonte, DO; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc; Neurology/Neurology Clinical Research Institute
  • Sydney Cash, MD, PhD; Neurology
  • Brian Edlow, MD; Neurology
  • Lee Schwamm, MD; Neurology
  • Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD; Neurology
  • Giorgio Bonmassar, PhD; Radiology/Martinos Center
  • Bruce Rosen, MD, PhD; Radiology/Martinos Center
  • Emery Brown, MGH, PhD; Anesthesia
  • Joan Camprodon, MD, PhD; Psychiatry
  • Darin Dougherty, MD, MMSc; Psychiatry
  • Shelley Fried, PhD; Neurosurgery
  • Ziv Williams, MD; Neurosurgery
  • Joseph T. Giacino, PhD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Grant Iverson, PhD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Ana-Maria Vranceanu, PhD; Psychiatry
Brown University
  • David Sheinberg, PhD; Neuroscience
  • Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD; Engineering​
  • David Borton, PhD; Engineering
  • Jonghwan Lee, PhD; Engineering
  • Arto Nurmikko, PhD; Engineering
  • Theresa Desrochers, PhD; Neuroscience
  • Stephanie Jones, PhD; Neuroscience
  • Christopher Moore, PhD; Neuroscience
  • Wilson Truccolo, PhD; Neuroscience
  • David Badre, PhD; Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences
  • Michael Frank, PhD; Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences
  • Thomas Serre, PhD; Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences
  • Diane Hoffman-Kim, PhD; Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology