Job Vacancy Announcement – Staff Clinician 1

Program Overview

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a major research component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is seeking exceptional candidates for a Staff Clinician 1 position in the Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch (ETPB) of the Intramural Research Program (IRP). The ETPB conducts clinical research studies on mood disorders with the goal of creating better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illness. The Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders (SNMD) within the ETPB focuses on developing innovative pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapeutics for adult patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, and suicidal ideation. Our proof-of-concept (POC) studies are conducted primarily in drug-free depressed and/or suicidal subjects on the research unit of IRP, NIMH. The studies integrate a wide range of clinical, behavioral, and imaging technologies including magnetoencephalography (MEG), structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), polysomnography (PSG), plasma biomarkers, cognitive tasks, and noninvasive measures of neuroplasticity, as well as collaboration with the Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit (NNU). For more information, see: ETPB Homepage

Position Overview

The successful candidate is expected to be responsible for the planning, organization, and direction of the clinical translational research activities of the inpatient Clinical Research Unit and will be part of a multidisciplinary team examining novel therapeutics and using electrophysiology and neuroimaging to map brain activity, as well as genetic and neurochemical mechanisms associated with treatment response in patients with mood disorders. The selectee will provide direct patient care or services incident to patient care, supervision of licensed independent practitioners, other staff and trainees, and expert medical analysis and advice, teaching, and administrative duties in support of the Section’s mission involving extremely complex scientific and medical psychiatric issues. In addition to collaborative work within the team, there is opportunity for outstanding candidates to develop their own projects within the Section towards the goal of understanding and improving treatment of mood disorders. Possible areas of concentration include 1) identifying pharmacological and other interventions that lead to improvement in mood symptoms and knowledge on mechanisms of rapid antidepressant response, and 2) developing biomarkers that predict response to neurotherapeutics and 3) understanding neurocognitive function and dysfunction in treatment-resistant depression.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications are a medical doctoral degree, post-doctoral training, strong publication record, and demonstrated expertise in conducting clinical research (including recruitment, protocol development and implementation, drug or neurotherapeutics development, and single-site studies). Applicants must have a current unrestricted medical license in a state or territory of the United States; be board certified in psychiatry; and have at least three years of prior research experience (clinical or basic). The position is open to US citizens, Legal Permanent Residents or non-US citizens who are eligible for a valid work authorization.

Preference will be given to candidates who have administrative experience, been medical director of a mental health clinical research program and/or inpatient unit and have training and a recent publication record in clinical and translational studies human subjects research in mood disorders. In addition, preference will be given to candidates who have research expertise in psychopharmacology or neurotherapeutic devices (e.g., electroconvulsive therapeutic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation), and in the areas of biomarkers of neuropsychiatric disease.

Benefits

The Staff Clinician 1 will be appointed at a salary commensurate with their qualifications and experience. In addition, full federal benefits, including annual and sick leave and a Thrift Savings Plan (equivalent to a 401K), will be provided.

See: https://hr.nih.gov/benefits  

How to Apply

This position is open to US citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or non-US citizen who are eligible for a valid work authorization. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests, and contact information for three potential references to Dr. Carlos Zarate zaratec@mail.nih.gov. Please include "Staff Clinician 1 Application" in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The position is subject to a background check.

HHS and NIH are equal opportunity employers

The DHHS, NIH, and NIMH are equal opportunity employers. NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, persons from underrepresented groups, and individuals with disabilities.