The preclinical neuroimaging laboratory of Dr. Nan Li (LNAB) at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center (UTSW) is seeking motivated postdoctoral fellows to join our team. The L
NAB focuses on developing
novel whole-brain fMRI methods to integrate molecular and system neuroscience and solve brain science
problems. Particularly, we are interested in understanding the neural mechanisms of reward, learning, and
memory in rodents’ brains https://www.nlab-utsw.org/. Our work is supported by the UT Southwestern
Endowed Scholar Award, the UT STARs Award, the Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation, and the Welch
Foundation.
Specific research projects include: (1) Develop MRI imaging acquisition and analysis methods for engineeredhemodynamic fMRI, particularly for genetic-targeted functional studies in rodents’ brains; (2) Study the reward
and learning system by integrating multimodal technologies – fMRI, optical imaging, optogenetics – in health and
brain disorders, such as addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Parkinson’s disease; (3) Innovative
projects initiated by the trainee while aligning with the general goal of the lab.
Qualifications: Candidates must have a recent Ph.D. degree in biomedical engineering/bioengineering or an
equivalent doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering or a related field before the effective date of
the appointment. Candidates should have research experience in MRI imaging with small animals. Required
qualifications also include strong motivation and communication skills and proficient programming skills
(MATLAB, Python, etc.).
Dr. Nan Li is an endowed Thomas O. Hicks Scholar in Biomedical Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center in
the Advanced Imaging Research Center, the Department of Neuroscience, and O’Donnell Brain Institute at
UTSW. Dr. Li holds an adjunct appointment at the Bioengineering Department, School of Engineering and
Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). Previously trained in the fields of MRI imaging and
neuroscience, Dr. Li’s published work focused on dopamine-sensitive fMRI (Li and Jasanoff, Nature 2020),
genetic-targeted hemogenetic fMRI (Ghosh*, Li*, et al. Nature Neuroscience, 2022), and neural mechanisms
underlying cortical plasticity (Li et al., PNAS 2011, Li et al., Journal of Neurotrauma 2014).
Interested applicants should email Dr. Nan Li (Nan.Li@utsouthwestern.edu) with your CV, contact information
for three references, and a brief statement of your research achievements, interests, and career plans.
Nan Li, Ph.D.
Nan.Li@utsouthwestern.edu
Nan Li, Ph.D. – Faculty Profile – UT Southwestern
https://www.nlab-utsw.org/
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