Post Doctoral Scholar in Neurophysiology of Human Cognition

Description

Area:   Neurophysiology of Cognition

Duration:   2 years

Start Date:   June 1st, 2026 (negotiable)

Salary:   $50,000 CAD per year, plus Plan C health benefits

The Department of Clinical Neuroscience  in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Neurophysiology of Human Cognition.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral scholar with a background in cognitive neuroscience and an interest in studying human cognition using intracranial recordings. The scholar will work closely with Dr. Fady Girgis, MD in the division of neurosurgery and Dr. Julia Kam, PhD in the department of psychology. This is a collaborative environment within the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.

The scholar will work in an interdisciplinary environment with a team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and cognitive neuroscientists on several funded projects that aim to discover the neurophysiological basis of various cognitive constructs, using intracranial EEG, single unit recordings, machine learning and potentially stimulation approaches. Their primary role will involve executing the funded projects (i.e. acquisition of intracranial EEG and single-unit recordings from surgical patients, analysis of intracranial neurophysiology data, development of analytic tools, scientific dissemination). With access to state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities and academic resources at the Cumming School of Medicine, the Psychology department, and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the fellow will also have the opportunity to pursue collaborative and self-directed projects beyond the funded research. They will also be strongly encouraged to apply for national/international awards.

The lab¿s mission is to deepen our knowledge of the neural underpinnings of various cognitive constructs including theory of mind, non-literal language, and mind wandering, using a multi-modal approach that combines behavioral and eye tracking methods with intracranial EEG and single-unit neural recordings. The fellow can expect to work in a diverse and inclusive environment, which aims to provide trainees with relevant opportunities and support them to achieve their career goals.
Qualifications:

• A PhD in Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering or related disciplines (or an MD with research experience in these fields)
• Background in human neuroscience or cognitive psychology
• Interest in cognition and electrophysiology
• Experience with analyzing neural time series data (with strong preference for EEG/MEG/iEEG/single unit recordings)
• Strong scientific computer programming (Matlab/Python) and statistical analysis (SPSS/R) skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and strong interpersonal skills to interact with a diverse subject population (patients and healthy controls) and interdisciplinary team members

Please review the Postdoc Eligibility Guidelines for more information prior to applying for this position.

Application Details:

• Please submit your application including the following documents in a single pdf to Dr. Fady Girgis at fmgirgis@ucalgary.ca
  • a cover letter describing the relevance of applicant¿s research experience and publication record to the position
  • current curriculum vitae
  • 1-2 first author publications (if available)
  • contact information (i.e. email) for 2 to 3 references (who may be asked for a reference letter if necessary)

Applicants are encouraged to apply to this position immediately. Application packages will be accepted until 11:59 pm MST March 15, 2026.
The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website.

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Postdoc Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world’s cleanest cities and has been named one of the world’s most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders’ in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii’ taa’poh’to’p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university’s commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (oic@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).