NEW POSITIONS AVAILABLE - POSTED FEBRUARY 06, 2008

The UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging is involved in the development of computational biological techniques for modeling and visualization of brain structure and function. We are recruiting fellows to work on mathematical methods for extracting, representing and analyzing the shapes of biological structures in brain images. These methods show enormous promise in understanding how diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, tumor growth and abnormal development emerge in the brain, and help in investigating their effects. Deformable models also help understand how biological structures, such as the brain during surgery, change dynamically over time. They can also capture statistics on how anatomy and physiology vary in healthy and diseased populations. We are also developing mathematics and algorithms to model anatomical elements in the brain as parameterized manifolds. We also work with statistical techniques will be described that combine geometrical models of anatomy and make inferences about disease effects, anatomical connectivity, and brain changes over time.

A main tenet of our facility is to provide our researchers with the necessary tools to conduct scientific research. We have a multi-million dollar supercomputing center utilizing the most cutting-edge equipment and complemented by a variety of development tools.

The incumbent will be responsible for developing reliable and usable software tools that will enable neuroscience researchers to perform brain-imaging research. Responsibilities include: working with research users and technical staff to define functional and user-interface requirements; using object-oriented analysis and design techniques to design and document software for the management and analysis of brain imaging data; using object-oriented programming techniques to develop, implement, and debug software tools; and using refractory techniques and patterns to improve the performance, reliability and reusability of existing software systems.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 5 years of industry experience as a developer of GUI-based software tools. Demonstrated ability to deliver usable, reliable and maintainable software products to a customer. Minimum of 3 years of C++ programming experience, and 5 years of Java programming experience, including 2 or more years of development using Java Swing. Expert knowledge of GUI design and development. Expert knowledge of object-oriented analysis and design (including UML). Expert knowledge of object-oriented software development in C, C++ and Java; including Microsoft C++ Foundation Classes, SUN Java Foundation Classes, Java Enterprise Classes (Enterprise Java Beans), Java Swing Foundation Classes, Java Database Connectivity (JDBC), Java Native Interface (JNI), Java 3D, parallel processing techniques and threading, and distributed/grid computing technologies (including GLOBUS and CONDOR). Expert knowledge of refactoring techniques and patterns; must have the ability to improve the performance and reliability of developed software and systems, and to redesign/refactor software so that it is reusable by other informatics researchers and programmers. Expert knowledge of relational database technology (including MySQL and JDBC). Knowledge of the DICOM protocols and formats, ANALYZE formats, and other, commonly used neuro imaging file formats. Demonstrated ability to debug and modify developed software.

Qualifications:

Strong research skills required. Ability to work independently. Ability to communicate well with other research personnel. Organization skills necessary for successful completion of several research projects. Ability to perform work that is detailed and routine. High level of motivation. Demonstrates independence in decision making. Effective problem solving/critical thinking skills. Under direction/guidance of principal investigator assume responsibility for a specific, on-going research project.