Research Assistant Jobs

The College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position within the Department of Health Sciences & Research. We seek an outstanding early-stage investigator who will develop an externally funded research program focused on brain health in aging and neurodegeneration. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in one or more areas including neuroimaging, neuromodulation, neurodegeneration biomarkers, cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, aging, rehabilitation, or related fields, and will demonstrate strong potential for scientific leadership and sustained research growth. Applicants should have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications and evidence of success or strong potential in securing competitive research funding, including pilot grants, fellowships, career development awards, foundation grants, or federal funding mechanisms. Candidates with experience integrating multimodal approaches, such as neuromodulation techniques, advanced neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers, and behavioral and cognitive assessments are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment with opportunities to engage investigators across the College of Health Professions, College of Medicine, and the broader MUSC research enterprise. Areas of strategic interest include: Neuroimaging methods (diffusion MRI, fMRI, PET, EEG, MEG, MRS, multimodal imaging approaches), Neuromodulation and brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS, VNS, focused ultrasound, closed-loop stimulation approaches), Neurodegeneration biomarkers, including blood-based and fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, Cognitive aging and dementia, Neural mechanisms of recovery, neuroplasticity, and rehabilitation, Precision approaches to brain health and neurological disease, Machine learning, advanced analytics, and computational neuroscience, Brain network and connectome analyses, Cognitive and physical rehabilitation across neurological conditions. The candidate will have exceptional opportunities to collaborate with faculty affiliated with two NIH-funded centers: the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence for Restoration of Neural-Based Function and Neuro-PRECISE: Center for Advancing Precision Neural Circuit-Based Rehabilitation. Together, these programs support a vibrant community of investigators studying neural recovery, brain stimulation, neuroimaging, and rehabilitation science. Additionally, in Fall 2026 the College of Health Professions will open the Center for the Restoration of Neural-Based Function in the Real World (RENEW Center), a 15,000-square-foot state-of-the-art research facility funded through a $7.9 million NIH construction grant. This innovative space will provide extensive resources for human neuroscience, neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and translational rehabilitation research. The successful candidate will benefit from numerous collaborative opportunities across MUSC, including investigators in Neuroscience, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Pathology, Public Health Sciences, Geriatrics, and Biomedical Engineering. Existing strengths include Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, stroke, traumatic brain injury, cognitive neuroscience, rehabilitation science, neuroimaging, neuromodulation, biomarker discovery, and precision medicine. This position offers a unique opportunity for a highly motivated early-career scientist to develop an independent and impactful research program within a nationally recognized academic health center committed to advancing brain health, neurorehabilitation, and neuroscience discovery. Primary academic appointment will be in the College of Health Professions, Department of Health Sciences & Research. Secondary academic appointments may also be available in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (e.g., Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology) or other departments at MUSC dependent on candidate qualifications and teaching interests. A joint VA research appointment is also a possibility (need not be a current VA investigator).