Postdoctoral Positions in the Science of Advanced Meditation at Harvard Medical School and Mass General
The Meditation Research Program of Mass General and Harvard Medical School is recruiting fully funded postdoctoral scientists. The successful candidate(s) will be hired with the academic appointment of Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
The objective of the Meditation Research Program (Directed by Dr. Matthew D. Sacchet; https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/) is to establish a multidisciplinary scientific understanding of advanced meditation. The program’s studies span and integrate affective and cognitive neuroscience, applied phenomenology, clinical psychology and psychiatry, computer science and related computational disciplines, contemplative and religious studies, epidemiology and public health, neuroimaging and electrophysiology, psychometrics and psychological assessment, and psychosomatic medicine. Current projects include investigation of meditative development and meditative endpoints toward a more comprehensive understanding of the trajectories and outcomes of advanced meditation. This research promises to contribute to improving individual well-being and the collective health of society by informing the development of meditation training and meditation-based interventions that are more impactful.
The Program is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. The department is exceptional across domains of care, research, training, and service and has held the #1 position in psychiatry in the United States for 20 of the past 26 years according to the U.S. News & World Report. The Martinos Center (https://www.martinos.org/) is a vibrant world premier neuroimaging research center devoted to the development and application of advanced biomedical imaging technologies.
Successful candidates will be expected to lead and collaborate on projects at the cutting-edge of the science of advanced meditation. This may be in any domain/field that our Program conducts research, including those listed above. The candidate will have access to extensive existing and newly acquired data. Opportunities will be available to pursue independent research and interdisciplinary collaborations across Mass General, Harvard Medical School and beyond. Details of the position will be dependent on scientific foci and fit. Human neuroscience candidates will have access to research-dedicated human MRI scanners (15 systems including two 7T) as well as concurrent MEG/high-density EEG.
Qualifications:
A strong background in a relevant/proposed scientific domain is required. Expertise in the practice, philosophy, and/or science of meditation is desired though not required. Experience with state-of-the-art methods and/or in computational approaches (e.g., computational modeling) is also valuable. For human neuroimaging candidates expertise in (specifically fMRI) and/or electrophysiology (EEG and/or MEG) is required.
To apply:
Send a CV, a cover letter describing research experience and interests and perceived fit with the Program, as well as names and email addresses of three references to the Program Administration (sacchetadmin@mgh.harvard.edu). Review of applications is ongoing, and the expected start date is flexible and dependent on Program priorities.
About Mass General and Harvard Medical School
Since 1811, Mass General has been a world leader in scientific investigation and biomedicine as well as in training generations of scientists and clinicians. Mass General is the original, largest, and flagship affiliate and teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Named the #1 psychiatry program in the country for 20 of the past 26 years, the Department of Psychiatry now has more than 600 affiliated psychiatrists and psychologists trained as clinicians, researchers, and teachers, and over 70 million dollars in annual research spending. Mass General is in Boston, Massachusetts, USA and has over 1,000 beds, and every year handles approximately 4,000,000 outpatients, 50,000 inpatients, 110,000 emergency room visits, and 42,000 operations. Individuals travel from more than 140 countries to receive care at Mass General.
Mass General’s researchers have pioneered significant scientific advances, including the first public demonstration of ether in 1846 and the introduction of x-rays, electrocardiograms, radioactive iodine, proton therapy, 3-dimensional mammogram imaging technology, and the functional MRI. Mass General researchers identified the first genes for Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, ALD and mitral valve prolapse, as well as developing the first telemedicine system, the first artificial arm and the first commercially producible synthetic skin.