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Postdoc Description
A 2-year postdoctoral position is available in the Sleep, Stress and Memory laboratory of Dr. Jessica Payne at the University of Notre Dame. Our lab focuses on how sleep and stress influence human memory, emotion, creativity and psychological function.

After new information is encoded into memory, it continues to be processed and transformed during consolidation. The consolidation process solidifies memories, making them resistant to interference and decay, but emerging evidence suggests that it can also change memories in ways that make them more useful and adaptive. The questions driving this line of research are, “What happens to memories over time?” and “What are the mechanisms underlying memory solidification and memory change?” Our lab uses two powerful tools to probe memory - sleep and stress. Both provide important mediums for targeting the consolidation process in humans. We combine behavioral, pharmacological and cognitive neuroscientific (EEG, fMRI) approaches to investigate these questions. Another line of research examines important clinical questions, including how disturbances in sleep and stress influence memory consolidation in individuals with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders such as PTSD, and how this, in turn, influences psychological functioning.

The research environment at Notre Dame is highly collaborative, with opportunities to extend or develop new ideas in an interdisciplinary environment. Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent degree. We are looking for highly motivated, self-driven, creative, and interactive scientists, preferably within a year of finishing their degree. Experience in sleep studies and/or sleep scoring is highly desirable. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Please send: 1) a cover letter or email briefly summarizing your research interests and career goals, 2) your CV, and 3) a list of potential references. ?Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, and reviewed on a rolling basis.