Job Description

Site: The McLean Hospital Corporation

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Longitudinal Neuroimaging of Pelvic Pain in Adolescents and Young Adults

Clinical and Translational Pain Research Laboratory, McLean Hospital (Mass General Brigham / Harvard Medical School)

Position Summary

The Clinical and Translational Pain Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital seeks a postdoctoral fellow to lead a longitudinal, multimodal neuroimaging study of adolescents and young adults with pelvic pain. The study integrates structural MRI as well as resting-state and tasked-based fMRI, quantitative sensory testing, and detailed clinical and psychosocial assessment across multiple time-points. The fellow will take a central role in the day-to-day operational aspects of the study including protocol execution, data acquisition, image processing, and eventual participation in data analysis, and manuscript preparation. A post-doctoral fellow typically holds dual affiliations at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

This is an ideal position for an early-career scientist who wants to build an independent research program at the intersection of pain, neurodevelopment, and women's health. The fellow will work closely with both Principal Investigators - Drs. Laura Payne and Christine Sieberg, who are pain researchers and Co-Investigator Dr. Edina Szabo (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center), along with a collaborative network of clinicians and imaging scientists across the Mass General Brigham system. The position is designed to support the fellow's development toward independent funding (e.g., F32, K-series) and a faculty career.

About the Laboratory

Dr. Payne’s and Dr. Sieberg’s studies evaluate how chronic pain develops, persists, and can be treated, with a particular focus on under-recognized pain conditions affecting girls and women. The lab has a strong mentorship culture, and trainees are encouraged to develop their own lines of inquiry within the lab's broader scientific mission.

Key Responsibilities

Study Leadership and Management

• Serve as the lead scientist for the longitudinal imaging study, coordinating all aspects of neuroimaging data collection, quality control, and data management
• Oversee study timelines, participant retention across follow-up visits, and scanner scheduling in partnership with the research coordinator and McLean Imaging Center
• Supervise and train research assistants, graduate students, and undergraduate trainees involved in recruitment, assessment, and scanning
• Assist with progress reports and contribute to grant renewals and new proposals

Participant Recruitment and Assessment

• Work with clinical collaborators to identify and recruit participants and matched pain-free controls
• Implement and oversee a developmentally appropriate battery of clinical, psychological, and sensory assessments (quantitative sensory testing), including pain characteristics, menstrual and pubertal history, mood, anxiety, trauma exposure, sleep, and functioning
• Ensure sensitive, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate interactions with participants and families, particularly given the intimate nature of the clinical conditions studied

Neuroimaging Acquisition and Analysis

• Oversee acquisition of high-quality structural, resting-state, and task-based fMRI data, in coordination with Dr. Szabo.
• Implement strategies to minimize and monitor head motion, including real-time motion monitoring and standardized quality control
• Develop and maintain reproducible preprocessing and analysis pipelines (e.g., fMRIPrep, FreeSurfer, CONN, FSL, SPM, or equivalents) with version-controlled code
• Assist with analyses of functional connectivity, task-evoked activation, brain structure, and their relationships to clinical trajectories in collaboration with the research team
• Apply longitudinal modeling approaches (e.g., linear mixed-effects, latent growth, or related methods) that account for developmental change, repeated measures, and attrition
• Contribute to multivariate and predictive modeling aimed at identifying neural markers of pain persistence and resolution

Dissemination and Scholarly Development

• Lead the preparation of first-author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, and contribute to collaborative papers
• Present findings at national and international scientific meetings (e.g., International Association for the Study of Pain, U.S. Association for the Study of Pain, International Pelvic Pain Society)
• Contribute to open science practices, including preregistration, data sharing, and code sharing consistent with funder requirements
• Develop an independent research question within the broader study and pursue external funding to support it

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required

• PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, cognitive neuroscience, medical imaging, or a related field, completed or expected prior to the start date
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with human MRI data acquisition and analysis, including structural, resting-state, or task-based paradigms.
• Proficiency in at least one major neuroimaging software package and in a programming or statistical language such as Python, R, or MATLAB
• Experience with, or working knowledge of, longitudinal data analysis
• Evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications commensurate with career stage
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently, manage a complex project, and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate adolescent participants’ schedules

Preferred

• Experience with pediatric, adolescent, or developmental neuroimaging
• Research experience in chronic pain, women's health, or a related clinical population
• Familiarity with analysis of high-motion or developmental datasets
• Experience with machine learning or predictive modeling approaches in neuroimaging
• A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, including at least one first-author research paper using MRI functional/structural analysis techniques.
• Prior experience with human subjects research, IRB processes, and research involving minors
• Interest in clinical and psychosocial aspects of pain and in translational research
• Commitment to inclusive, equitable, and trauma-informed research practices

Training and Mentorship

The fellow will receive:

• Close, individualized mentorship from the Principal Investigators, with regular one-on-one meetings
• Opportunities to collaborate with imaging scientists, clinicians, and statisticians across McLean Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School
• Support for developing and submitting fellowship and career development grant applications
• Access to seminars, courses, journal clubs, and postdoctoral programming across the Harvard-affiliated community
• Funding to attend scientific conferences and present research
• Exposure to clinical aspects of pain care and psychological treatment, where of interest, to deepen translational perspective

Position Details

• Location: McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
• Appointment: Full-time postdoctoral position, initial appointment of one year with renewal for up to three additional years contingent on performance and funding
• Start date: February 1, 2027, flexible
• Reports to: Laura Payne, PhD, M-Principal Investigator and Director, Clinical and Translational Pain Research Laboratory

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Physical Requirements

• Standing Frequently
• Walking Frequently
• Sitting Occasionally
• Lifting Frequently
• Carrying Frequently
• Pushing Occasionally
• Pulling Occasionally
• Climbing Rarely
• Balancing Frequently
• Stooping Occasionally
• Kneeling Occasionally
• Crouching Occasionally
• Crawling Rarely
• Reaching Frequently
• Gross Manipulation (Handling) Frequently
• Fine Manipulation (Fingering) Frequently
• Feeling Constantly
• Foot Use Rarely
• Vision - Far Constantly
• Vision - Near Constantly
• Talking Constantly
• Hearing Constantly

The salary range for this position is $2,080 to $3,120,000 annually. At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience, education, certifications, and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package.

In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums, and bonuses as applicable, along with recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite candidates to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of their potential compensation and benefits package.

Remote Type

Onsite

Work Location

115 Mill Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

EEO Statement:

1600 The McLean Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

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