Research Associate; Postdoc in Cardiovascular​/Aortic Image Analysis

The Advanced Aortic Imaging for Clinical and Translational Research (AAI-CTR) Lab in the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate with clinical training (MD or equivalent) to join our NIH-funded, multidisciplinary research group. (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

This clinical research-focused position spans multiple active projects, with a primary emphasis on a newly formed multi-center consortium aimed at identifying novel imaging biomarkers of risk for aortic dissection using pre-dissection imaging data.

UW–Madison Radiology is a leading academic center for imaging research with state-of-the-art equipment, robust AI and image analysis infrastructure, a collegial and collaborative environment, and strong partnerships across departments including Medical Physics, Surgery, and Cardiology.

Responsibilities

- Assist the PI and collaborators with clinical research investigating imaging-based biomarkers for diagnosing, phenotyping, and risk-stratifying patients with diseases of the aorta, with emphasis on aortic dissection prediction

- Contribute to the design and execution of multi-center consortium studies focused on pre-dissection imaging analysis

- Build, curate, and manage clinical research databases across institutional and consortium datasets

- Independently perform data analysis and statistical modeling, and take the lead on preparing research manuscripts for publication

- Supervise and mentor undergraduate and graduate research students

- Present research findings at national and international scientific meetings

Required Qualifications

- Doctoral degree in Medicine (MD or equivalent); candidates with a PhD in Epidemiology, Public Health, Biomedical Engineering, or Medical Physics will also be considered

- Experience building and maintaining clinical research databases

- Strong oral and written communication skills, with a minimum of 2 peer-reviewed publications demonstrating a scientific background in clinical research

- Enthusiasm for exploratory research in areas with limited prior published literature

- Strong organizational and project management skills

- Familiarity with basic biomedical research statistics (e.g., correlation, regression) and willingness to learn new analytical methods; experience with R, STATA, SPSS, or similar software is a plus

- Experience with medical imaging data (CT, MRI), whether through clinical practice or research

Desired Qualifications

- Clinical background or research experience in genetics, heritable conditions, aortic disease, or aortopathy

- Research experience with medical imaging data analysis (e.g., image segmentation, registration, quantitative measurement)

- Experience with advanced statistical or data science techniques such as mixed models, clustering/classification, PCA, or statistical shape modeling

- Familiarity with machine learning/deep learning concepts or applications

- Basic proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB

Why Join Us

The AAI-CTR Lab is an internationally recognized research group focused on using advanced imaging to improve surgical and medical treatment for aortic patients. We offer a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment spanning Radiology, Surgery, Cardiology, and Medical Physics. Current and former trainees have received awards from prominent scientific societies and competitive grant funding for their work. Importantly, we have a well-established track record of clinical trainees completing research in our lab and going on to match at top US residency programs, predominantly in Radiology.

Given the novelty of the research techniques, both technical developments and clinical analyses are anticipated to yield high-impact, publishable results.

This is a one-year appointment with the option to renew based on performance and funding availability. The position is available immediately.

Work Authorization
:
We have a strong preference for candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States, due to the significant processing delays associated with visa sponsorship. However, we will consider exceptionally strong applicants for H-1B sponsorship on a case-by-case basis.