Neuroscience needs data scientists. The brain represents one of the most complex challenges facing science today. And now with advances in our methods to study the brain—Neuropixel probes that can record from 1000 neurons at once, growing consensus on data standards across laboratories—the field is flooded with data that needs interpretation. The skills of data scientists are essential to springboard the field to the next stage of discoveries.

Towards that end, the Shanahan Foundation Fellowship was created to bring fresh perspectives into the field, encouraging data scientists from outside neuroscience to come and work with leading investigators at the Allen Institute and UW. 

The Allen Institute is unique in its infrastructure and pipeline that enables the production of standardized, reproducible data on the brain (as evidenced by our vast data banks). Together with our collaborators at the UW computational Neuroscience Center and eScience Institute, we provide data scientists with the ideal opportunity and resources to mine for novel insights and discoveries.

Details

You do not need experience in neuroscience to apply. The goal of the fellowship is to provide opportunities to non-traditional applicants who would not typically be funded by the typical postdoctoral fellowships in neuroscience. The fellowship has been purposefully designed to give fellows the time and mentorship to get up to speed in a new field and new data collection techniques and methods.

Fellows will be employed by the Allen Institute as either a Scientist I or a Scientist II (with a matching salary) and will receive an affiliate postdoctoral appointment at UW. 

During the three-year fellowship, fellows will identify a mentor at the Allen Institute, where the fellows will be based. Fellows will select a co-mentor at the University of Washington who will provide additional guidance on a project designed by the fellow, focused on quantitative analysis of neuroscience data available through the Allen Institute’s vast data banks – ranging from molecular, genomic, transcriptional, physiological, morphological, anatomical and functional whole-brain level in the brains of mice, non-human primates and humans – or through ongoing laboratory work.  Each fellow will have the opportunity to mentor a fully-funded UW undergraduate or postbaccalaureate research assistant who helps with their research for 3-12 months.

Fellows will participate in the postdoctoral career development program at the University’s e-Science Institute and the UW Computational Neuroscience Center. The eSciences Institute offers regular workshops on key topics including cloud computing, python and reproducibility. New fellows will attend the annual Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain where they will learn how to apply data science skills to neuroscience data and questions. Throughout the three years, fellows will be supported in developing a network in the neuroscience field and sharing their progress with peers at conferences. Up to three fellows will be selected to begin in Fall 2022.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be data scientists in a broad sense, with a Ph.D. in a quantitative field such as computer science, statistics, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics or biology with a background in statistical, computational and machine learning methods. Ph.D.’s should have been awarded in the last 3 years.

One goal of the fellowship is to build a network of collaborators, as such, priority will be given to applicants who are not currently postdoctoral fellows or scientists at the University of Washington or the Allen Institute.

We believe high-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are building an environment of diversity and inclusion and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this fellowship.  

Application Instructions

For full consideration, please submit your application by February 1, 2022. Applications may continue to be considered after this deadline on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

Learn more and apply on the Shanahan Fellowship Website.

Applications must include:

·       A curriculum vitae from the applicant

·       Two letters of support from advisors and other mentors

·       A one-page personal statement from the applicant describing their history, activities, and interests as an individual (especially those outside of science) which may give the committee a greater sense of you as a person and your ability to simultaneously interact with and challenge traditional scientific fields.

·       A two- to three-page research statement from the applicant describing their prior research, interests in applying data science to the field of neuroscience, potential research interests (including tools they are familiar with) and how this fellowship aligns with their career goals.

·       The choice of the final advisor/co-advisor will be accomplished during the first year of this fellowship. 

Questions? Email: shanahan.fellow@alleninstitute.org