Neuroimaging Data Management, Processing, and Analysis in Primary Progressive Aphasia
Sarah Inkelis, Professor
Neurology
Applications for Fall 2025 are closed for this project.
The ALBA Language Neurobiology Laboratory within the UCSF Memory and Aging Center is directed by Dr. Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini and collaborates with the Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory, directed by Dr. Srikantan Nagarajan. This group’s research focuses on Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a neurodegenerative syndrome in which communication abilities become progressively impaired. Our aim is to identify sensitive linguistic, cognitive, motor, or neuroimaging biomarkers of PPA. We use multimodal imaging to predict longitudinal disease progression in the brain and track the progression of symptoms.
Role: • Support the neuroimaging studies by assisting with image preprocessing and analyses under general supervision.
• Ensure data quality and accuracy in study databases by performing data cleaning procedures to remove inconsistencies and errors.
• Develop tools to assist with large-scale multimodal data management.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, present findings, discuss research papers.
• Expand knowledge on topics related to PPA and neuroimaging.
• Explore potential career paths in research, neuroscience, psychology, neurology, education, and related fields.
Qualifications: • High level of accuracy and attention to detail in data collection/entry, organization, and analysis.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to contributing to the research project.
• Basic understanding of brain research.
• Coursework/major in neuroscience, psychology, biology, computer science, biomedical imaging, or another related field.
• Familiarity with using common software applications (e.g., Microsoft Excel).
• Familiarity with general data collection and analysis techniques.
• Familiarity with database programs (e.g., REDCap), common coding languages (e.g., Linux, bash script), and potentially some experience with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R) is preferred.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Celina Alba
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: 1) UCSF Sandler Neurosciences Center 675 Nelson Rising Lane San Francisco, CA 94158 2) UCSF Medical Sciences Building 513 Parnassus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94131
Related website: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/research/labs/biomagnetic-imaging
Related website: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/research/labs/biomagnetic-imaging